Makinde's aide explains why domestication of disability law prolongs

Mr Ayodele Adekanbi, aide to Gov. Seyi Makinde of Oyo state says government is amending the disability law to properly suit the needs of physically challenged persons in the state. Adekanbi, Special Adviser to the governor on matters relating to persons with physical challenges spoke with the correspondent in Ibadan on Monday. He said that some aspects of the law signed at the National Assembly needed to be reviewed in order to fully accord persons with special needs their rights.

He said when they assessed the disability law at the national level, they observed that principal functions of the commission established by the Federal Government are to be performed by persons without any form of disability. In addition, they discovered that the commission is populated by persons without disability and they felt that it should not be so. These are the reasons why he advised governor Makinde to ensure that the law is first amended before domesticating it in Oyo State.

In Oyo State, Adekanbi explained that they have decided that the executive chairman and secretary of the commission must be physically challenged persons. It was also agreed that 50 per cent of members of the commission must be persons with physical challenges. They are doing it because they know that persons living with disability should know the best form of policy that would suit them.

According to the special adviser, the recommendations are already before the state Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice for final inputs before amendment by the state House of Assembly. Supreme recalls that President Muhammadu Buhari signed the bill prohibiting all forms of discrimination or stigmatisation against people with disability in 2019.