CCD Lauds Abia House Of Assembly For Passing Persons With Disabilities Bill Into Law

The 7th Abia State House of Assembly on Wednesday, August 31, 2022 passed the persons with disabilities bill into law.

The bill seeks for the establishment of a commission to see to the welfare of disabled persons in Abia state.

The State House of Assembly led by the speaker, Right Honourable Chinedum Enyinnaya Orji after making amendment on the H.A.B 23, approved all the sections of the bill and resolved that the law be cited as “The Abia State Commission for Disabled Persons Law”.

Reacting to the passage of the bill into law, David Obinna Anyaele, the Executive Director, Centre for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD), expressed excitement noting that the Abia state House of Assembly has demonstrated that all lives matters including persons with disabilities.

Anyaele expressed optimism that with the passage of the bill, Abians living with disabilities will no longer be exempted from governance.

The CCD Executve director while lauding the contributions of the first lady of Abia state, Dr Mrs Nkechi Ikpeazu to persons with disabilities, called on governor Okezie Ikpeazu to immediately sign the bill into law

Ayaele wrote:

I received with joy today the news of the passage of Abia State Disability Bill by Rt. Hon. Chinedu Orji led House of Assembly. The passage of this bill is a strong demonstration by the Abia State House of Assembly that all lives are precious, in particular the lives of Abians with disabilities.

Persons with disabilities in Abia State are the most excluded in governance at the subnational level in Nigeria due to absence of legal framework for the protection of the rights and dignity.

With the passage of this bill, the end of exclusion of Abians with disabilities in governance by State and none State actors is coming to an end.

I call on the Clerk, Abia State House of Assembly to speedily clean up the bill for onward transmission to the State Governor for his assent.

I also call on the Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu not to hesitate to sign the bill into law as his wife has committed so much to get this bill passed.

I thank Mrs. Nkechi Ikpeazu, wife of the Governor of Abia State for her solidarity with the disability community during this campaign for the passage of the bill. Mrs. Ikpeazu addressed the House of Assembly on the 15th of July 2021 on the need to pass the Disability Bill.

I appreciate the disability community in Abia State for the resilience, consistency, and pushing in advocating and lobbying for the passage of the bill.

Together, we shall overcome.