ADAC lobbies Gombe, Taraba lawmakers on strengthening laws for PWDs

By Musa Baba Adamu

Lawmakers drawn from Gombe and Taraba states have been tasked on the need to enact laws favourable to the People With Disabilities (PWDs).
This was conveyed by Advocacy for Disability Act Cluster (ADAC) Cluster at a retreat titled: “Legislative retreat to harnessing legislative support on the Gombe and Taraba state Disability Bill.”
Stating the importance of the retreat, Grace Jerry, ADAC Cluster Anchor and Executive Director the Inclusive Friends Association (IFA), said the community of PWDs has suffered discrimination, neglects, barriers, poverty, and exclusion due to the inadequacies.
She said some of these discriminations could be absence of systems and structure.
She said having legislation that protects the rights and drives accountability from State and Non-state actors will create accessible systems and structures and will in return lead to the development and growth of the state.
She added that the retreat was in furtherance of ADAC commitment to ensuring PWDs live a fulfilled life through an accessible system and structure rooted in inclusive legislation.
She said the retreat was geared towards getting: “our Legislature from Gombe and Taraba state to support the Disability Bill and consider it for passage.”
She said she was hopeful that the retreat would come up with practical and achievable steps, and actionable commitments that will fill the existing disability gaps through the passage of the Disability Law in both states..
Calling on the two state Assemblies to prioritize the passage of Disability Bill and Commission, she added that “we encourage PWDs to continuously work in unison and the incoming Assemblies.”
Buttressing the need for the legislation, she said Taraba that has 541,470 persons who have one form of disability or the other while Gombe with about 600,000 persons who have one form of disability or the other, such legislative protection would have served a wider purpose.
“This population has diverse skills, potentials, economic contributions that inform development, and a huge demography to determine the outcome of an election. No doubt, the community of Persons with Disabilities has suffered discrimination, neglects, barriers, poverty, and exclusion due to the inadequacies and in some instance absence of systems and structure.”
She called on the media to provide informed awareness to citizens on their roles, the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to carry out their responsibilities towards achieving this great slide of a disability law in Gombe and Taraba State.