The Hope Alive for Possibilities Initiative and the Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities in Benue State have appealed to the state governor, Hyacinth Alia, not to delay in assenting to the stateās disability bill.
The disability bill that was transmitted to the Benue State Assembly, October 11, 2024, was on Friday passed by the assembly.
The Executive Director, Hope Alive for Possibilities Initiative, Aver Akighir made the appeal on Monday during a press conference in Makurdi.
Akighir said, āBut let me be clear, passing the bill is not the destination. It is the beginning. We must now work together to ensure implementation, awareness, accessibility, and budgetary allocation.
āWe must remain vigilant to ensure that this law is not only signed, but also respected, enforced, and translated into lived realities.ā
The groups noted that with the executive assent, it will guarantee legal backing for the rights, inclusion, and social protection of over 15 per cent of the stateās population with disabilities.
The groups further appealed to the state governor to establish a disability commission with adequate funding and authority, grant budgetary allocations to support assistive technologiesand inclusive education with healthcare.
It equally harped the need to adopt a disability inclusive civil service recruitment plan in line with the 5 per cent employment quota and to ensure political appointments of persons with disabilities into key decision-making positions.
Furthermore, it pointed at ensuring public awareness campaigns to combat stigma and promote inclusion as well as accessibility of government buildings, schools, hospitals, and transport systems.
In his speech, the Senior Special Assistant to Governor Hyacinth Alia on Special Needs and Equal Opportunities, Bem Anshe appreciated all the groups, including theĀ Ā Speaker of the State Assembly, Hon Dajoh Hyacinth, members of the assembly as well as the immediate past state executive council members for their pivotal roles in the passage of the disability bill.
He assured the groups of the governorās commitment to the plight of people with disabilities in the state and promised that the governor would not hesitate to speedily assent to the bill.
