By Lanre Oloyede
In a significant step towards fostering disability inclusion at the grassroots level, Hon. Mohammed Abba Isa, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Special Needs and Equal Opportunities, was on Tuesday presented with a draft copy of the Local Government Disability Inclusion Framework.
The document was developed by the Hope Inspired Foundation for Women and Youth with Disabilities (HIFWYD) under their “Partnership for Disability Inclusive Local Governance” (PADILG) project.
The presentation, held at a brief ceremony in Abuja, was led by Mrs. Nwite Oluchi Esther, the Project Lead of HIFWYD.
The PADILG project, funded by the Disability Rights Fund (DRF), seeks to embed disability-inclusive policies at the local government level to impact the lives of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) more directly.
According to Mrs. Nwite, the framework was developed in collaboration with the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) and the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD).
She explained that the document is designed to ensure that local governments, being the closest tier of government to the people, take active steps to protect the rights and promote the inclusion of PWDs.
“Given the current situation where several states have yet to adopt the National Disability Act, it is crucial to have a localized framework that advocates for the protection of the rights of Persons with Disabilities. This framework is tailored for local governments to ensure inclusivity and protection for PWDs,” Mrs. Nwite stated.
She added that the initiative would complement the National Disability Act and provide PWDs with a tool to demand inclusive governance at the grassroots level.
The framework aligns with the provisions of the National Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act 2018, the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
While receiving the document, Hon. Mohammed Abba Isa expressed his gratitude for the foundation’s efforts, praising the thoroughness of their work.
The Senior presidential aide assured Mrs. Nwite that his office would review the framework to provide relevant inputs before adoption.
The SSAP noted that the framework provides a veritable tool for promoting disability inclusion in Nigeria, particularly at the local government level, where policies can directly impact citizens’ lives.
“This framework is a commendable tool for advancing inclusive development at the local government level, promoting the implementation of the National Disability Act, and institutionalizing disability inclusion. It will go a long way in ensuring that the rights of Persons with Disabilities are respected and upheld,” Hon. Abba Isa noted.
The office of Senior Special Assistant to the President is expected to collaborate with stakeholders to fine-tune the document, ensuring its effectiveness in bridging the gap between policy and implementation for PWDs across the country.
