By Lanre Oloyede
The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Special Needs and Equal Opportunities, Hon. Mohammed Abba Isa, has said the proposed FCT Disability Policy holds immense promise for the over 400,000 Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) residing within the Federal Capital Territory.
Hon. Abba Isa stated this during a two-day Validation Workshop organised by the FCT Women Affairs Secretariat in collaboration with the World Bank, CMB International, and the Sustainable Family Health Foundation.
According to the presidential aide, once fully enacted and implemented, the FCT Disability Act would serve as a vital institutional framework for protecting the rights of Persons with Disabilities, ensuring accessibility, promoting economic empowerment, and improving service delivery across the territory.
He noted that the policy would also help bring government closer to some of the most vulnerable members of society while amplifying their voices in governance, policy formulation, and decision-making processes.
“Today’s validation process is not just another bureaucratic exercise; it is a defining moment in our collective journey towards building an inclusive, equitable, and accessible society for all,” he said.
Abba Isa commended the organisers for convening critical stakeholders to deliberate on the domestication and implementation of the FCT Disability Policy, describing the initiative as a strategic intervention aimed at equipping management staff and stakeholders of the Federal Capital Territory Administration with the technical knowledge and practical skills needed to drive disability inclusion.
He observed that despite being the seat of power and symbol of national unity, the FCT had yet to domesticate the National Disability Act, unlike many states across the federation.
“The Federal Capital Territory, being the seat of power and centre of national authority, ought to have been among the first jurisdictions to domesticate the National Disability Act. However, the step being taken today clearly indicates that the FCT is now ready to assume its rightful leadership position in championing disability inclusion in Nigeria,” he stated.
The presidential aide explained that the policy document under validation would serve as a strategic framework and institutional guide for the protection of the rights and dignity of Persons with Disabilities within the FCT.
According to him, the framework would provide the foundation for inclusive governance, accessible public infrastructure, equal opportunities, social protection, economic empowerment, and improved access to healthcare, education, transportation, and justice for Persons with Disabilities.
He further stressed that the policy would establish accountability mechanisms to ensure disability inclusion is treated as a matter of human rights and sustainable development rather than charity.
Abba Isa also commended the Mandate Secretary of the FCT Women Affairs Secretariat, Dr. Adedayo Benjamin-Laniyi, for what he described as visionary leadership and commitment to advancing inclusion and social protection in the FCT.
Speaking on the broader national outlook, he disclosed that about 28 states had already domesticated the National Disability Act, although only a few had established implementation agencies or commissions to effectively enforce the laws.
“Experience has shown that domestication alone is insufficient without institutional mechanisms to ensure compliance, monitoring, enforcement, and coordination. Without implementation agencies, many well-intentioned disability laws remain largely symbolic,” he said.
He expressed optimism that the FCT would not only complete the domestication process but also establish a strong implementation structure capable of translating policy provisions into measurable outcomes.
On behalf of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the presidential aide urged states yet to domesticate the National Disability Act to urgently take concrete steps towards implementation and the establishment of enforcement agencies.
He added that his office remained open to providing technical guidance, stakeholder engagement strategies, policy support, and institutional advisory services to states willing to advance disability inclusion.
Abba Isa reiterated that the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu remains committed to building a Nigeria where no citizen is left behind regardless of disability, gender, or social status.
“Our administration recognises that Persons with Disabilities are not liabilities to society but assets with enormous potential capable of contributing meaningfully to national development when given equal opportunities,” he said.
He urged participants at the workshop to contribute meaningfully to the validation process, stressing that the quality of the policy produced would determine the level of inclusion achieved in the future.
