ABUJA (Women Affairs Ministry Report) – The Nigerian Government will soon establish a National Commission for Persons with Disabilities to address all issues relating to the welfare and development of over 20 million Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) in the country as well as serve the much needed platform for the enforcement of all provisions of the Disability Act.
The Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Zainab Maina made the disclosure in her response to the growing agitations by stakeholders on the need to establish a Commission that will solely handle the issues and concerns of PWDs in Nigeria lately.
She also said that in order to strengthen the commitment of Government to the implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and its optional protocol which have been ratified, the National Assembly is working assiduously to ensure the passage of the Nigerian Disability Bill into law.
“When passed into law, it will provide for the education, health care and protection of the social, economic, political and civil rights of persons with disabilities. The Act will provide for the establishment of a National Commission for Persons With Disabilities (PWDs) which will serve as the platform for the enforcement of all provisions of the Disability Act,’’ the Minister said.
Zainab Maina further inferred that to ensure effective service delivery to persons with disabilities, a baseline survey on PWDs was carried out in 2009 and 2010. Adding, disability data obtained from the surveys have aided the government in the formulation of appropriate intervention measures and strategies for mainstreaming of persons with disabilities towards participation in the socio-economic and political development of the nation.
The Minister disclosed that the Ministry is collaborating with local and international organizations, including Disabled People Organizations (DPOs) at federal, state and local government levels to formulate policies and implement initiatives that would incorporate PWDs in the country’s development agenda.
Maina stated that the Ministry is also establishing structures to mainstream disability perspectives across all Ministries, Departments and Agencies at the federal level; indicating that Nigeria is currently undertaking a National Survey of the Social Welfare Correctional Institutions. ‘The outcome, she noted would be utilized for the improvement of the nation’s Juvenile Criminal Justice Administration for proper guidance and correctional measures to re-integrate discharged juvenile ex-offenders into their families.’
“Worthy of note is the systems and institutional strengthening of the Social Development Workforce in Nigeria. The federal government is working in collaboration with UNICEF/USAID in this respect and a survey has been undertaken to identify the Social Development Workforce in Nigeria, to enable capacity building that would ensure quality social welfare delivery services,’’ she revealed.
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