The Advocacy for Disability Act (ADAC) has said that the recent public hearing on the proposed bill to establish Gombe State Disability Protection Law and Disability Commission and Other Matters is a significant milestone in the journey towards inclusivity in the state.
ADAC, a consortium of five Civil Society Organizations (CSO), Joint Association of Persons with Disability (JONPWD) Gombe State Chapter, Gombe State Network of Civil Society (GONET) and Association of Non-Governmental Organization (ANGO), noted that the public hearing on the proposed bill will further harness the people’s input in order to have a people-oriented legislation.
The five Civil Society Organizations are El-New Hope Foundation, Abia State; Global Youth Empowerment and Vulnerable Initiative, Adamawa State; Lawanti Development Community Foundation, Gombe State; Center for Peace Education and Community Development, Taraba State and the Inclusive Friends Association (IFA), Abuja.
This was made known in a statement by Grace Jerry, ADAC Cluster Anchor and Executive Director, the Inclusive Friends Association (IFA).
The statement comes after the recent public hearing on the Gombe State Disability Law.
Jerry said they eagerly awaits the birth of an inclusive state as the Governor, Mohammed Inuwa Yahaya rewrites the story of Persons with Disabilities in the state by assenting to the bill as soon as the Assembly is through with the legislative process.
Jerry also in the statement disclosed that ADAC joins the population of over half a million (594,015) Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) in Gombe State to applaud the Gombe State House of Assembly for prioritizing a State Disability Protection Law and establishment of the Gombe State Disability Commission and other Matters bill.
“The ADAC celebrates the efforts of His Excellency towards the disability community even in the absence of a Disability Law and holds strong on his statement.
“We remain resolute in our commitment to providing necessary support for the empowerment and dreams of our PWDs”, it said.
The coalition further urged the State Assembly to continue with the people-oriented legislative leadership towards achieving inclusive legislation that will further help harness the potential of the disability community in the state.
Coalition hails Gombe govt on Disability Bill