The Centre for Citizens with Disability has commended Governors Okezie Ikpeazu and Godwin Obaseki of Abia and Edo states respectively for signing Disability Bills into laws in their states.
This was contained in a statement by the executive director of the centre, Comrade David Anyaele, which was made available to LEADERSHIP in Umuahia, the Abia State capital yesterday.
He said Ikpeazu has ended the demand by more than 400,000 people with disabilities in the state for a legal framework that would protect them from discrimination and other harmful practices by reason of their disability.
“We commend Governor Ikpeazu for his assent to this law thereby engraving his name as the first governor of the state to sign a law that promotes the welfare of citizens with disabilities,” he said.
Anyaele said it was gratifying to record the good news in favour of persons with disabilities as the reign of their exclusion, stigma, and isolation by the state and non-state actors have come to an end.
He added that the centre sincerely appreciated the wife of the governor, Dr Nkechi Ikpeazu for standing on behalf of the disability community in the state throughout the struggle for the passage of the law.