Lalu and Continuous Push for Implementation of Disability Act Across MDAs
By Mukhtar Ya’u Madobi
With about 30million persons with disabilities in Nigeria, the task for the government remains on how to take good care of these special people of concerns regarding their medications, food, clothing, shelter, education and other social amenities.
In order to achieve the aforementioned objectives, the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD) is therefore established and entrusted with such tasks by the government.
The commission is an Establishment of Federal Government of Nigeria pursuant to section (31) of the Discrimination Against Persons with Disability (Prohibition) Act 2018. The Act was signed into law on the 17th January 2019 by President Buhari, the Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The Disability Act, through the NCPWD is empowered to promote, protect and prioritise the rights of persons with disabilities, and to further enhance their productivity through education, health and other socio-economic activities of the state.
Mr. James David Lalu npom is the Pioneer Executive Secretary of the Commission and since his assumption to office, he has been pushing for the adequate implementation of the act which is aimed at betterment of the welfare of people with disabilities (PWDs).
He has been relentless in his efforts of seeking collaboration with government agencies and other Non-Governmental Organisations so as to ensure that disabled persons enjoy all that life can offer to people.
As a result of these advocacy campaigns by Mr. Lalu, a lot of partnerships have been established by the commission with sister organisations of which the result has been nothing but success stories all over.
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It is on one such occasion that the Hon. Minister of the FCT, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello pledged the support of the FCT Administration (FCTA) to the NCPWD so as to enable it fulfil its mandate of caring for millions of persons with disabilities in Nigeria.
The Minister made the promise when Mr Lalu led the management of the Commission on a courtesy call to Mr. Bello’s office in late October.
As part of expressing his joy for the visit, the Minister also added that the FCTA will domesticate the Discrimination Against Persons With Disabilities (Prohibition) Act and ensure the compliance of aspects of the Act concerning to the FCT. Indeed, this is a remarkable accomplishment by Lalu and the commission to an extent for the PWDs.
“The Federal Capital Territory Administration is part of the federal government. So, considering fact that the Bill on persons with disabilities has been signed by Mr President, I assure you that the FCT Administration will follow the procedure as quickly as possible and domesticate it here in the FCT and we will see specific aspects of the Act that we need to make sure we honour and follow
Furthermore, Malam Bello also informed the NCPWD delegation that efforts were being put in place to make Abuja an inclusive city that will cater for the needs of persons with physical challenges and equally give them the same kind of treatment as other individuals.
While felicitating with Lalu on his well deserved appointment, the Minister described Buhari’s decision for assigning competent personnel to head the Commission as a square peg round a square hole.
Believe me, even at this point, Lalu had already written his name in gold and he will forever be remembered for the giant strides he made in this important industry for the people with disabilities in Nigeria.
Mukhtar is a Staff Writer with the Emergency Digest
