IFA pushes for more inclusion of PWDs in electoral process, others

By Musa Baba Adamu

As the world mark International Day for Persons With Disabilities (PWDs)Inclusive Friends Association (IFA) has identified areas of challenges faced by the PWDs in Nigeria.

IFA is a non governmental organisation that champions advocacy for enhanced inclusiveness of the PWDs in the electoral process in the country, using Access Nigerian Campaign.

Speaking in Abuja to mark the International Day, Executive Director, IFA, Grace Jerry said while the country had made some gains in the inclusion of the PWDs community in its electoral process, there was still alot left to be done.

According to her, Nigeria’s implementation of Disability Act remains, saying despite efforts put by IFA and other organizations, the exclusion gap seems to be getting wider instead of smaller.

She also said although advocacy by groups such as the IFA had pushed electoral inclusiveness of the PWDs to such some level, there was still much to be desired, as it was observed during the 2022 Ekiti and Osun off-cycle governorship elections that it was difficult for voters with disabilities to enter the polling units and vote.

She said while the country had made issues of climate change impacts on the people a priority and putting measures to curtail its impact, the thought of how these affected the PWDs was an “afterthought,” adding that organizations such as NEMA were yet to mainstream issues of PWDs at the inception of any idea or program to cater to any emergencies.

IFA therefore, called on the federal and the state governments to accelerate the implementation of the Disability Act, 2018, while calling on the states yet to pass such Law to do so before next year’s general elections.

It called on various candidates running for elections in the 2023 general elections to commit and sign the Governance Agenda for Inclusive Nigeria (GAIN) by January 2023.

It urged governments at all levels to engage the PWDs in the democratic process in order to “combat discrimination and abuse,  counter prejudice, protect their rights and ensure their inclusion in all facets of life on an equal basis with other people.”

It further calledo on the government to employ working strategies in line with present realities to speed up the implementation of the Disabilities (Prohibition) Act 2018.

It urged government to ensure that the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD) was fully funded in the 2023 appropriation Bill currently before the National Assembly.

It called on: “All CSOs, DPOs, development partners, corporate organizations, well-meaning Nigerians, and the international community to support the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities in implementing policies that would help PWDs live fulfilled lives on an equal basis with other Nigerians.”