Group Hails Ugwuanyi For Signing Disability Rights Bill Into Law

The Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD) Enugu State Chapter has commended the Governor of Enugu State for signing in the Disability Rights Bill into an operational law in the state.

The group through its chairman Comrade Onyebuchi Mbah said that the action of the Governor was a further demonstration of his compassion and passion for the community of people with disabilities.

The statement reads on part: “We the Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD) Enugu State chapter are delighted to express our profound gratitude to you His Excellency, the executive Governor of Enugu state for your immense contributions to Enugu Disability community.

“You gave the executive backing that saw the introduction of Enugu State Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities Prohibition Bill into the Legislative Chamber in October, 2022 and the subsequent considerations that cumulated to the passage of the Bill into Law by the State Assembly on the 4th of April, 2023, and to futher demonstrate your compassion and passion for this special community you have in few days a go given your assent to the Disability Rights Bill making it become an operational Law in the State.

“No doubt your benevolence have inspired within us the self confidence to succeed through inclusive society on equal bases for all in governance and respect for human dignity.

“We are delighted to express our deep appreciation and gratitude to you in your Executive assent to this all important Bill within two weeks of it’s passage by the House Members and for all your disability friendly dispositions since you assumed office in 2015 till date.

“Your goodwill towards the community of persons with disabilities are too Numerous to mention ranging from your annual sponsorship of some of our blind folks from three senatorial zones to the Nigeria farm craft centre Lagos through the Ministry of Gender and Social Development Affairs and scholarship for 18 visually impaired undergraduates during your 1st tenure in office.

“You also employed 50 disabled persons into the state civil service with so many charitable gestures in your philanthropic character and ever ready to do more.
Through this acts you have clearly demonstrated that you are lovely committed to the welfare of the vulnerable and committed to serve Ndi-Enugu inclusively, and you do not discriminate against anyone irrespective of his/her social economic status).

“We are very elated with appreciation to your magnanimity and sense of belonging dispositions to this special community.
Now that your tenure is gradually drawing to an end with the month of May, 2023 being the last before taking a bow, we beseech you for consistency towards the gazetting procedure of the signed Disability Law in order to formalize the establishment of Enugu State Disability Commission (ESDC( as provided by the Law for a smooth takeoff, and your good name shall be written in Gold as the new administration takes over office by the 29th of May, 2023.

“This is indeed a parting gift and an indelible legacy that posterity shall remember you in your goodness.
We sincerely wish you well for life’ our Dearest Governor (Onye-Obioma Ndi-Disable). Our prayer is that God shall continue to shower you and your family with his grace of preservations.

The group also thanked members of the state Assembly for, “working and producing this workable document that registers our dear State to the Universally designed principals for inclusive society.”

Some individuals mentioned as deserving of encomium for their part in the success of the bill are the chairman of the Nigerian Union of Journalists, Enugu StTe Chepter, Comrade Sam Udekwe, Dr. Ifeoma Chukwuma, Lady Onyinye Mamah,

Others are Barr. Catherine Edeh and her VDI team, Mrs Mariam Menkiti, CCD Nigeria, Association of Lawyers with Disabilities and other CSOs to this noble achievement.

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