In line with its goal of ensuring persons with disabilities enjoy the benefits of government policies, programmes and services; the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) has launched the Local Government Disability Framework.
Held at the International Press Centre, Ikeja, Lagos, and organised by Hope Inspired Foundation for Women and Youth with Disabilities, the event brought together representatives from sectors.
ALGON President, Aminu Maifata, represented by Kolade David, said the disability community was recognised in all aspects of government.
He said: “ALGON believes that local government authorities can play direct roles in helping to eradicate all forms of discrimination against persons with disabilities, which often manifest within local communities. Local governments can also ensure that persons with disabilities live meaningful lives within their immediate communities by ensuring their access to local services and infrastructure. This is why ALGON has collaborated with the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD) to develop and implement this Local Government Disability Framework.”
Adding her comment, the General Manager of Lagos State Office of Disability Affairs, Mrs. Adenike Oyetunde-Lawak, represented by Dr. Adekola Theresa, praised the initiative, saying it would enhance the work of government and complement existing national framework.
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She said: “Everybody has a right to life, education irrespective of who the person is. This framework will enhance the work and complement with what we have in the national. It will be easy for people to reference it. It is a laudable project. Government cannot do it alone.
“All that we have in this framework is simplified for those with disability to know their rights.”
Hope Inspired representative, Donald Okon, stressed the need for establishments of smaller units at the local government, ‘’which is important with persons with disability.’’
He called for more awareness and education as well as making provision of accessibility to public infrastructures such as BRT buses, among others.
Lukman Salami, chairman, Joint National Association of persons with Disability (JonapwD), appealed to the All Progressives Congress (APC) government not to erode the inclusion of people with disabilities in politics, saying in the whole of the Southwest, ‘’it is just one representative of the disability community in Lagos, who is a councillor in the person of Agbabiaka Adewale representing Oshodi/Isolo.’’
