The Persons With Disabilities (PWDs) community in Imo has made a strong case for the establishment of a Disability Commission in the state.
The Imo Chairman of the Joint National Association of Persons With Disabilities (JONAPWD), Mr Chidubem Ekwelem, appealed while speaking at a workshop on Wednesday.
The workshop is on the inclusion of PWDs in the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) benefit structures.
The Centre organised a three-day workshop for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD) with support from the Ford Foundation.
Ekwelem, a legal practitioner, said that the commission, when established, “would eliminate third-party services and enable PWDs to interact directly with government”.
He thanked Gov. Hope Uzodinma for signing the Disability Act into law and expressed the confidence that he would soon approve the establishment of the commission.
He commended the state’s Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Welfare for its support in promoting advocacy for PWDs.
Speaking, the Founding Executive Director of CCD and Chairman of the Abia State Disability Commission, Mr David Anyaele, said that the Centre pushed for the inclusion of PWDs as beneficiaries during the enactment of the PIA but without success.
Anyaele said that the Act provides for consultation with youths and women groups in the Niger Delta, but remained silent on the inclusion of PWDs, hence the workshop.
He urged PWDs to educate host community leaders and oil companies on their roles and responsibilities through the demand charter, which could be used for public sensitisation on PWD needs in the Niger Delta region.
