Persons with Disabilities, PWDs, in Ebonyi State have rated the state government near zero percent in inclusion when compared with other states, alleging total neglect in appointments, employment and welfare.
The State Chairman, Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities, JONAPWD, Comrade Friday Nwovu, made the allegation on Friday in Abakaliki during a one-day multi-stakeholders dialogue.
The dialogue, themed “From Policy to Practice: Advancing Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities in Ebonyi State,” was organised by a National Youth Service Corps member, Ogheneruemu Siemuri, under the NYSC Policy Advocacy Lab, N-PAL, project supported by LEAP Africa and the Nigeria Youth Futures Fund, NYFF.
It brought together government, traditional institution, INEC, civil society, the legislature and disability clusters to examine policy gaps and chart a way forward for PWDs in the state.
Contributing, Nwovu said the present administration has shown little or no regard for PWDs, noting that the domesticated disability bill is yet to be assented to and made operational.
“It’s only Ebonyi that has zero point something percent in inclusion of persons with disabilities. In government offices, you cannot see any PWD. Even in the recent appointment of 1,710 Executive Assistants, there was not a single PWD,” he lamented.
He cited widespread unemployment among educated members, saying: “Some of us are graduates but have not been able to secure government jobs due to segregation. My Vice, for instance, is a graduate of UNIZIK. He has looked for a job for over 30 years to no avail. If he had gotten a job, he should be nearing retirement by now.”
Nwovu recalled that past administrations of Governors Sam Egwu and Martin Elechi had Special Assistants on Disability Matters and ran scholarship programmes that graduated about 120 PWDs yearly, but said all such programmes have stopped.
“In other states like Imo, they have SA on PWDs, but in Ebonyi, we don’t have that. The clusters are suffering so much that we cannot even attend national programmes. By Sunday, all PWDs will be gathering in Kaduna for our convention and election, but Ebonyi will not be there. Our letters to government appear to be a disturbance. Even in the private sector, PWDs are not regarded as humans,” he said.
Presenting results of a baseline assessment conducted in the state, the organiser, Siemuri, said the survey revealed very high levels, between 63 and 84 percent of ineffective policy implementation, poor representation and consultation of PWDs in policy-making, difficulty in accessing public services and lack of government benefits.
She said the assessment was conducted to understand the experiences, needs and barriers faced by PWDs in accessing government services, welfare programmes, economic opportunities and decision-making processes.
The survey recommended inclusion of PWD representatives in decision-making, regular consultations with disability clusters, improved information about public programmes, accessible entrances to public facilities, promotion of accessible transportation and provision of sign language and accessible information formats in public discourse.
On economic empowerment and accountability, it recommended expansion of employment opportunities, skills training, improved access to grants, capital and equipment, beneficiary tracking and sector-wide monitoring of disability policy implementation.
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Siemuri, an environmentalist, said her motivation stemmed from environmental advocacy experiences in secondary schools, her research and interactions with residents while serving in the state Ministry of Environment.
Stakeholders at the event called on government at all levels to move from policy formulation to practical implementation.
The Resident Electoral Commissioner of INEC in Ebonyi, Mrs. Pauline Ugochi Onyeka, represented by Victor Ugwu, said INEC has made provisions for braille ballot papers for visually impaired voters and urged PWDs to collect their Permanent Voter Cards at their LGAs and vote according to conscience.
For the traditional institution, HRH Ephraim Okwor of Obegu Community in Ishielu LGA blamed poor policy implementation and enforcement for the plight of PWDs, insisting that adequate policies already exist. He recommended amendment of the Act establishing the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities to create an enforcement arm.
Other stakeholders: Ugochi Johny Okoroafor representing the Ebonyi State House of Assembly, Barr. Faithvin Nwanchor for the State Ministry of Justice, Chief Oliver Chima Ajah for the Ebonyi State Civil Societies Network, and Dr. Ibiam Azu Agwu, a health financing specialist, urged PWDs to build networks and pledged to use their platforms to advance their cause.
Agwu enjoined PWDs to acquaint themselves with provisions of the disability law and other relevant laws to effectively demand their rights.
Representative of LEAP Africa and Executive Director of COPE Foundation, Azubuike Mgbebu, said LEAP Africa is deeply concerned about inclusion and willing to support quality advocates with grants towards achieving an all-inclusive society.
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