Ahead of the 2023 General Elections, the National Commission for Persons With Disabilities(NCPWD) has called on any Presidential candidate that wins the election, to ensure that they are committed to disability inclusive development in Nigeria.
The Executive Secretary of the Commission, James Lalu, made the call in reaction to comments made by some politicians condemning the achievements of another administration that has affected the lives of persons living with disability positively.
Lalu encouraged all Presidential Candidates to be committed to the enhancement of the disability community.
While speaking to newsmen in Abuja, Thursday, the Executive Secretary of the Commission also appealed to states that are yet to pass the Discrimination Against Persons with Disability Prohibition ACT (2018) into law to speedily do so.
Lalu commended the President Mohammadu Buhari led administration for the support given to the disability community since assumption of office, adding that the APC government has delivered on all its promises to persons with disabilities and demonstrated strong will to do more.
Expressing concern over the non implementation of the prohibition ACT by some states including Adamawa, Sokoto, Benue and Delta states, the E.S charged the PDP presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar and all concerned to prevail on their state governors to pass and implement the bill, in order to improve the lives of PWDs.
Throwing it’s weight behind the APC Government over several interventions to programmes of the physically challenged, the NCPWD Boss maintained that politicians seeking the support of the PWDs must have made positive impact on the community and prove their contributions in the past.
He further stressed that with 2023 election around the corner, candidates seeking the votes and support of the disability community must be committed to improving the lives of PWDs, as well as inclusivity of their community, just as the ruling APC has done.
Lalu lauded the efforts of APC States such as Kogi, Lagos, Zamfara, Jigawa, Nassarawa and others that have passed the Prohibition ACT into law and have commenced the implementation already.
He announced that plans are in the offing for the Commission that has partnered with various institutions, to commence the implementation of it’s scholarship programme for the physically challenged community.
Lalu said that once the verification process is completed, the issuance of scholarship to the disability community will commence in earnest.
Assuring that the political aparthy that existed among person’s living with disability in the past no longer did, the Executive Secretary pledged that the Commission will continue to sensitize it’s community and the general public on the importance of their participation in elections.
