JDPMC, JONAPWD Call For immediate Implementation Of Osun Disability Law

Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke has been urged to speedily implement the disability bill that has been signed into law.

Stakeholders at a meeting organized by the Justice Development and Peace Makers’ Centre in Osogbo, the state capital said there was the need for full implementation of the Disability Prohibition Law in Osun State.

The participants commended the governor for the speedily assent to the Disability Bill.

Recalls that the Osun State House of Assembly had in May passed the Osun State Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities Prohibition Bill into law.

At the meeting, various challenges militating against the welfare of persons with disabilities and strategies for effective implementation of discrimination against persons with disabilities prohibition Law, 2024 in the state were discussed and stakeholders emphasised that thr right and welfare of the PWDs should not be relegated.

The programme drew participants across five clusters of Joint Association of Persons With Disabilities, JONAPWD in the state including those with physical disabilities, sight impairment, hearing impairment, albinism and those with spinal cord injuries.

Speaking during the panel session, the General Coordinator of JDPMC, Rev Fr Peter Akinkunmi, warned religious leaders and public speakers who utter discriminatory statements against persons with disability, saying such attitude should be jettisoned.

Akinkunmi charged the state government not to just sign the bill into law and neglect it, stressing that the implementation of the law should not be delayed.

He also called on the disability communities to rally relevant government stakeholders and take necessary steps to inspire gradual implementation of the law.

The Catholic priest noted that religious leaders should desist from reading negative meanings and conjuring spiritual conjectures against persons with disabilities.

“We have discovered as an organization that has been engaged in defense of human rights, a defense of human dignity. A lot of issues have to do with human rights abuse is usually rooted or enforced by religion.

“These are some of the things we have discovered, child abuse, gender, violence and discrimination against persons disabilities. Lots of this are rooted either by religions. Now that law has criminalized discrimination against person with disabilities this does not in any way exclude anyone, no one is excluded in keeping the law.

“Some of the discriminatory and stigmatization for person with disability come from the spiritual interpretation of person living with disability.

“You heard some of this from person living with disability or situation where it is one spiritual leader or the other who reveals that this particular person has this condition because of this or that. As a result of that the child is already viewed like a negative omen in the family It’s a foundation of the problem”.

The Chairman of JONAPWD in Osun, Stephen Oluwafemi said the landmark achievement demonstrates the government’s commitment to promoting inclusivity and equal opportunities for persons with disabilities to have access to public spaces, education, employment as well as free healthcare.

He said: “This landmark achievement demonstrates the government’s commitment to promoting inclusivity and equal opportunities for persons with disabilities.

“However, we urge the government to take immediate action to implement the provisions of the bill, particularly in the ongoing teacher’s recruitment exercise.

“We call on the government to ensure that persons with disabilities are given fair representation and equal opportunities in the recruitment process.

“The implementation of this bill will not only improve the lives of persons with disabilities but also enhance the socio-economic development of Osun State.

The lawmaker representing Obokun State Constituency, Adewumi Adeyemi, disclosed that the law has empowered JONAPWD to establish bureau to oversea every activity of persons with disabilities, noting that it is an offence for anyone to discriminate against them.

Other speakers including a legal practitioner, Mrs Omolola Richards, who spoke at the event said it is imperative for the government at all levels to intensify efforts and strategic approach through awareness programme, orientations and public enlightenment to ensure strategies for the effective implementation of the law.

They condemned religious institutions who believe in spiritual interpretation that disability factor occurs as a result of curse on the family and sins that God does not forgive, saying such mentality should be discouraged.
Ends