Osun JONAPWD Seeks Passage Of Disability Bill

The Osun State chapter of the Joint National Association of Persons With Disabilities, JONAPWD, has enjoined the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Adewale Egbedun, to help fasten the passage of the disability bill.

The state chairman of JONAPWD, Stephen Oluwafemi made the plea during an advocacy visit to the Osun State House of Assembly on Tuesday.

The advocacy visit was led by the Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities in collaboration with Festus Fajemilo Foundation and supported by The Leprosy Mission Nigeria with funding support from Liliane Foundation, Netherlands.

According to Oluwafemi, passage and domestication of the bill will assist members of the association against discrimination from some members of the public.

“We want to appreciate the speaker and all the members of the House of Assembly. We are here today to appeal to our amiable speaker to help us hasten the passage of the disability bill.

“The passage of the bill would assist our members against people who discriminate against us.”

Addressing the PWDs at the House of Assembly complex in Osogbo, the Speaker who was represented by the clerk of the House, S.A Amusan, said that the delay in passing of the bill was due to the Lawmaker’s commitment to the 2024 appropriation bill.

Asuman said “One thing about this disability bill is that we want to do a thorough job, we don’t want a bill that will pass today and within a few months we will be thinking of amendment.

“We are considering input from other states as well as the planned amendment by the National Assembly. We are also conducting a public hearing.

“I want to assure you that all the problems of not being included will be a thing of the past once the bill is passed.”

The advocacy team also made a call to the Deputy Governor’s office to deliver an advocacy brief containing demands of the association regarding the disability bill.

They also visited the Head of Service’s office to appeal to the state government for a recall into the state’s civil service, some members of the association who were appointed by the immediate past administration but had their letters withdrawn when the current government came on board.