…Says, Act has drawn public attention to plight of disabled in Nigeria
The establishment of the National Commission for Persons Living with Disabilities has brought so much attention to the plight of disabled persons and raised public awareness on the need to addressing their concerns.
The Act has also increased public compassion on those living with disabilities from individuals and organisations across the country who have taken interest in providing succour to them.
These were the words of the Executive Secretary of the NCPLD, Mr James Lalu while receiving the sponsor of the Disabilities Act, Rt Hon Barr Legor Idagbo in his office in Abuja. Rt Hon Idagbo is the House of Representatives member representing Bekwarra/Obudu/Obanliku Federal Constituency.
Lalu was full of praises to Hon Idagbo for taking personal interest in the condition of millions of persons living with various disabilities in the country, saying his efforts will never go without God’s blessings upon his life.
The ES also commended President Muhammadu Buhari for signing the bill into an act and the 8th National Assembly for joining hands to pass the bill into law.
According to Lalu, the Act has created serious public empathy for the disabled and made government’s at all levels to give them attention.
He said the full implementation of the Act has become difficult because of some conflicting provisions of the act which did not clarify specific roles for the governing council and the chief executive officer of the organisation, pleading with the sponsor, Hon Idagbo to sponsor an amendment of such provisions to make implementation easier and avoid administrative conflicts between the two.
The Disabilities Act was one of the few bills signed into law by President Buhari.
Earlier while congratulating Lalu on his appointment as the pioneer ES of the commission, Idagbo said he was moved with compassion towards the plight of the disabled whom he sees everyday struggling to eck a living and competing unsuccessfully with those at advantage.
According to the lawmaker, it is a divine and moral duty for everyone to feel and cater for the disabled and that government has a responsibility to cater for them like all other citizens in line with the provisions of the Act.
He promised to carry on with the further sponsorship of the amendment of the Act to address the conflicts inherent in it.
