Stakeholders seek full implementation of disability laws to promote inclusiveness
10 May 2023 |
3:23 am
Stakeholders have charged the three tiers of government on full implementation of extant disability laws to promote inclusiveness in all sectors.
Stakeholders have charged the three tiers of government on full implementation of extant disability laws to promote inclusiveness in all sectors.
They made the appeal yesterday at a one-day media training on reporting persons with disabilities, organised by Journalists for Democratic Rights (JODER) in collaboration with Member of Media for Democracy (MFD), supported by International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), European Union (EU) and West African Journalists Association (WAJA) in Lagos.
The concerned experts urged government agencies and stakeholders to ensure full compliance with the Disability Rights Commission Act, Nigerians with Disabilities Act and other relevant policies.
They also called for provision of disability-friendly infrastructure at airports, quality healthcare, education, employment opportunities and other social services.
JODER’s Executive Director, Adewale Adeoye, regretted the pitiable situation of children with disabilities.
He said: “In Nigeria, where about 18.5 per cent children are out of school, according to United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), ascertaining the percentage of those with learning and other types of disabilities is next to impossible, as official data are non-existent.
“The World Bank projects that people with disabilities constitute about 15 per cent of populations in developing countries, and between 80 and 90 per cent of them don’t gain access to basic needs in life, especially basic education.”
Adeoye deplored inadequate representation of persons with disabilities in decision-making positions, urging government to ensure their full participation in all spheres of political and economic activities.
He appealed to journalists to enhance reportage on persons with disabilities and bring their issues to national spotlight.
In his remarks, Executive Director, Centre for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD), David Anyaele, while lauding the Lagos State government for making move to better the lot of these special citizens, he, however, lamented that in the last three to four years, the board of Lagos State Office for Disability Affairs (LASODA) has been constituted, besides absence of no known policy framework from the agency to support government activities.
He advised journalists to fully deploy disability terminologies in reportage and avoid derogatory words in the course of qualifying persons with disabilities.
Anyaele noted that lack of access to education by children with disabilities was widening existing inequality gap and crime rate.
3 hours ago
Hearing in two separate money laundering suits filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) against British national, James Nolan, could not proceed on Wednesday at a Federal High Court, Abuja.
3 hours ago
President Bola Tinubu has called on the nation’s Judiciary to embark on reforms that will ensure functional justice system and support economic growth.
4 hours ago
Dr. Umar Ganduje, the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has said that the party would provide solutions to the challenges bedevilling the country. Ganduje stated this during the APC grand finale campaign and the presentation of party flags to the 11 local council chairmanship candidates, on Wednesday in Gombe. The News Agency…
4 hours ago
The Rivers Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Isaac Kamalu, resigned his appointment on Wednesday. He is the second commissioner to resign from the cabinet on Wednesday after Gov. Siminialaye Fubara, announced a slight cabinet reshuffle on Tuesday. The first to resign was Prof. Zacchaeus Adangor, Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice. In the cabinet reshuffle, the governor…
4 hours ago
In furtherance of efforts to sanitize the mining sector, the federal government has revoked 924 dormant licences spanning exploration, mining, small-scale mining, and quarrying Licenses, six months after revoking 1,663 licences. The revocation licences include 528 exploration licenses; 20 mining licences; 101 quarry licenses, and 273 Small Scale Mining Licenses (SSML). Minister of Solid Minerals…
6 hours ago
President Bola Tinubu has approved the take-off of the first phase of the Consumer Credit Scheme (CCS) starting with members of the civil service. This is contained in a statement by Chief Ajuri Ngelale, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, on Wednesday in Abuja. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that…
6 hours ago
Multichoice Nigeria on Wednesday announced another price increase on the DStv and GOtv packages. The company in a statement said that the new prices will take effect from Wednesday, May 1, 2024. In the new price list for DStv, Premium bouquet, the price moved from N29,500 to N37,000; Compact+ from N19,800 to N25,000; Compact from…
7 hours ago
Bayelsa Deputy Governor Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo has been appointed as head of the Ondo State’s Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship primary election scheduled for Thursday. This is contained in a statement made available to newsmen on Wednesday in Akure by Mr Kennedy Peretei, the Publicity Secretary of PDP in the state. The News Agency of Nigeria…
7 hours ago
The Nigerian government has suspended Dana Air a day after one of its aircraft crash-landed in Lagos. Nigeria's aviation minister Festus Keyamo directed the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to implement the suspension on Dana Air over safety concerns. "In light of these incidents and with the paramount priority being the safety and well-being of…
8 hours ago
The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) predicts sunshine and thunderstorms throughout the country from Wednesday to Friday. NiMet's weather forecast, released on Tuesday, predicted a sunny atmosphere over the northern region for the entire forecast period. NiMet predicted isolated thunderstorms in parts of Kebbi, Taraba, Zamfara, and Kaduna during the afternoon and evening hours. The agency…
×
Get the latest news delivered straight to your inbox every day of the week. Stay informed with the Guardian’s leading coverage of Nigerian and world news, business, technology and sports.
0 Comments
We will review and take appropriate action.