By NewsBits
The Association of Lawyers with Disabilities in Nigeria (ALDIN) has lauded Enugu State Governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi for signing the Enugu State Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities Prohibition Bill of 2022 into law.
ALDIN through its National President, Ikem U.Uchegbulam Esq. said the governor has engraved his name in the memories of Enugu state citizens as a promoter of the welfare of all persons irrespective of status or disabilities. The group also expressed appreciation to the Speaker and members of the Enugu State House Assembly for their efforts in ensuring the passage of the Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities Law in Enugu State.
ALDIN in a statement signed by its National Director of Media and Publicity, Justice Christopher described the passage and assent of the bill into law, as a landmark event.
Part of the statement reads: “[I]t would go a long way in providing the requisite legal framework for the protection of the rights and dignity of Persons with Disabilities, thereby ensuring that government programmes and activities do not exclude any citizen of the state by reason of disability. This good news from Enugu State signals that the reign of human rights abuses, exclusion, stigma, and isolation of people with disabilities by state and none State actors has come to an end.
“It is pertinent to recall how ALDIN (supported by the Disability Rights Fund) had committed so much to get this Bill passed by the Enugu State House of Assembly and the culminated assent by the governor. To wit, inter alia conducted a series of activities including symposiums, legal empowerment training, sensitization of stakeholders in regard to Disability law, advocacy campaigns to stakeholders in the legislative, judiciary, and executive arms, press conferences to demand domestication of Disability law in Enugu State, and recently attended the public hearing of the disability bill including making far-reaching input into the bill as well as following up on the bill at every stage.
“ALDIN therefore finds it gratifying that its efforts in this regard along with those of others have yielded positive results. The Association further urged the Governor to as a matter of expediency, set up the necessary mechanisms and funding for the full implementation of the Law.
“ALDIN congratulates the Enugu state disability community for achieving the feat. It however, states that there is more work to be done to secure the implementation of the law and ensure equal treatment and participation of people with disabilities across the state. ALDIN hereby pledged its unalloyed support and commitment in the aforementioned regard.”
