The Joint National Association Of Persons With Disabilities (JONAPWD) Bauchi State Chapter, being the Umbrella of all Organizations and Associations of Persons With Disabilities in Bauchi State Felicitate with all people of Bauchi State on the occasion of the International Day Of Persons With Disabilities 2023.
The annual observance of the International Day of Persons With Disabilities was proclaimed in 1992, by the United Nations General Assembly resolution 47/3. Celebrated on 3rd December annually around the World. The observance of the Day aims to promote an understanding of disability issues and mobilize support for the dignity, rights and well-being of persons with disabilities. It also seeks to increase awareness of gains to be derived from the integration of persons with disabilities in every aspect of political, social, economic and cultural life.
The theme of the 2023 International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD) is: “United in action to rescue and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for, with and by persons with disabilities”.
Some of the achievements of Bauchi State Government on Disability inclusive governance including:-
The revival of the Bauchi State Agency For Persons With Disabilities which was reduced to the position of Rehabilitation Department under the Ministry of Social Welfare by the immediate past administration.
Bauchi State Government has renovated and furnished the Special Education Center Yelwa, which is supported by the Al-Muhibbah Foundation and considered the free education of Students with Disabilities in most of the state’s owned tertiary institutions.
Bauchi State Government in collaboration with Bruder Hilfe Social Development Initiative Foundation has distributed ninety (90) mobility Cart to Persons with Disabilities across the twenty local governments of Bauchi state, not only to ease movement for the beneficiaries but allow them to do some businesses and become economically independent.
Bauchi State Government has donated a new brand Bus (Sharon) during the first tenure of His Excellency, Sen. Bala Muhammad to the National Association Of the Blind (NAB), Bauchi state Chapter and also Supported the Bauchi State Association Of Deaf to buy Office Accommodation.
Another landmark achievement of the Bauchi State Government under the leadership of Governor Bala Muhammad was the approval of Resolutions adopted by the Bauchi state House of Assembly at its plenary session No. 059, held on Wednesday 19th October, 2019.and forwarded for the Executive approval and implementation.
The following items were adopted and forwarded are:-
- Provision of free education, health care, transportation, sports, recreations and telecommunications services to all persons with disabilities in the state.
- Renovation of Yalwa Disabled school which is the only government school for PWDs and equip it with teaching aid, eg. Braille machine, hearing aid, teachers etc.
- Create two (2) additional schools for the disabled in the remaining two (2) senatorial districts to cater for the increasing number of PWDs in the state.
- Modify public buildings, structures and automobiles to make them accessible and usable to PWDs.
- Establish Vocational and rehabilitation centers for the disabled where they are not available and rehabilitate the existing one in all the twenty (20) local governments of the state to curb the menace of street begging by PWDs.
- All the Directorate of social development and welfare services in the twenty (20) local governments should be enjoined to discharge their responsibilities in respect and taking Care of all PWDs in their domain
- That the corporate organizations and wealthy individuals in the state should be mobilized to contribute to the social services of PWDs.
- Embark on enumeration of all PWDs in the state to ascertain their actual population, nature of their disabilities and the necessary intervention needed to improve their living conditions.
To ensure inclusive and participatory governance, His Excellency Sen. Bala Muhammed (CON). The Executive Governor of Bauchi state approved all the above items and further directed the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning to capture these items in 2020 Budget appropriation.
Our Call on His Excellency
As the largest minority group in the state, we respectfully call on the Bauchi State Government under the leadership of His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Bauchi State Sen. Bala Muhammad to consider our following request.
- The Bauchi State Agency for Persons with Disabilities since its establishment has recorded noticeable feats, even though it has been grossly under-resourced. The Agency needs to be given adequate resources (Human, financial and technical) which are needed to translate government policies into action.
- Government should establish Education Trust Fund for Persons With Disabilities to cater all our education needs from Primary to Tertiary education and prioritize the inclusive education to reduce the rate of out of schools children and street begging among PWDs
- Women and Youth were adequately represented in the Bauchi State Executive council as Commissioners with the exclusion of Persons with Disabilities. As a matter of appeal for the Fundamental rights, JONAPWD respectfully calls on His Excellency to consider the appointment of a qualified and competent Person with Disability as a Special Adviser to His Excellency on Disability Matters.
Government should consider the employment of Persons with Disabilities to reduce the menace of street begging and other social problems in compliance with Section 29. of the discrimination against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act 2018. which provides that “All employers of labour in public organizations shall, as much as possible, have Persons with Disabilities constituting at least 5% of their employment. Bauchi State Government has not met the fulfillment thresholds.
Government should review through legislation, the Bauchi State Agency For Persons With Disabilities Establishment law 2010 by exclusively appointing Person With Disability as the Executive Secretary of the Agency and non permanent Board members to reduce the frequent misunderstanding and conflict of interest in running the affairs of the Agency.
The Executive Governor of Bauchi state should commit to the affirmative action to ensure that, at least 10% of all political appointments are reserved for the qualified Persons with Disabilities.
Government should allocate official vehicles to JONAPWD and other five clusters of PWDs to ease our transport needs. JONAPWD also needs office accommodation for smooth running of its administrative work.
Government should as a matter of urgency consider the full implementation of the Bauchi State House Of Assembly Resolutions, items 1 to 8 for the well-being of PWDs in Bauchi State.
With deep concerns, the recent Fuel subsidy removal by the Federal Government which exacerbated untold socioeconomic hardship especially to those in the rural areas. We want the government to speed up the distribution of palliative materials to Persons with Disabilities as prescribed by law that in any emergency situation or queue, Persons with Disabilities should be considered first. Thank you.
JONAPWD CHAIRMAN
BAUCHI STATE.
