CCD Calls For Gazetting Of Abia, Edo States Disability Laws

The Center for Citizens with Disabilities, (CCD), has expressed excitement over the signing into law of the state Disability Bill by Abia State Governor and his Edo State counterpart, Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, calling for immediate gazetting of the law by the various states Houses of Assembly.

Head of the Center, David Anyaele, who could not contain his joy said, “We received with great excitement the good news of the signing into law of the Abia State Disability Bill by Governor Okezie Ikpeazu bringing to a closure the demand by more than 400,000 people with disabilities in state for a legal framework that would protect them from discrimination and other harmful practices by reason of their disability.

“We commend Gov. Ikpeazu for his assent to this law thereby engraving his name as the first Governor in Abia State to sign a law that promotes the welfare of Abia people with disabilities.”

Anyaele said the signed Disability Law which is cited as the Abia State Commission for Persons with Disabilities Law 2022 has placed the state on the map of states that protects the rights of persons with disabilities.

According to him, the law would go a long way towards ensuring that government programmes and activities do not exclude any citizen of the state by reason of disability.

“It is gratifying to record this good news from Abia State in favour of persons with disabilities as the reign of exclusion, stigma, isolation of people with disabilities by state and none State actions have come to an end.”

He equally commended Governor Godwin Obaseki for the signing into law, a Bill For a Law To ensure full integration of persons with disabilities Into the society and to establish Edo State Commission for Persons With Disabilities and vested it with the responsibility for their education, healthcare and protection of their social, economic, cultural, civil and political rights.

Anyaele, explained that the disability law for Edo State provides for the prohibition of discrimination, prohibition of harmful treatment, practices, prohibition of cruelty and inhuman treatment, access to public buildings and infrastructure, accessibility aids for public buildings, among others.