Persons with disabilities demand legislative seats, policy implementation

By Chukwuma Umeorah

Persons with disabilities (PWDs) have called for dedicated legislative representation and full implementation of existing disability laws, citing persistent exclusion from governance, education, and employment.

The demands were made at a town hall organised by News Central TV in Asaba, where participants said policies affecting them often fail due to a lack of inclusion in decision-making.

“One thing I want to appeal to the state and federal government is to create a special seat in the National and State Houses of Assembly for persons with Disabilities because you cannot initiate laws that will improve our lives without us being in the seat of initiating those laws”, the President of Isaac Joshua Initiative for Disabilities (ISJID), Isaac Odjuwu, said.

Participants at the forum, attended by over 200 stakeholders, including advocates, policymakers, and healthcare professionals, pointed to weak enforcement of disability laws as a major constraint, despite existing legal frameworks.

The Asagba of Asaba, HRH Epiphany Azinge, said attention should shift from drafting policies to enforcing them. “We have passed the stage of formulation of policies to the implementation of laws that have since been passed,” he said.

Beyond policy concerns, attendees highlighted day-to-day barriers limiting access to education and jobs. Sola Idowu, a visually impaired English teacher, said he has been unable to secure employment since 2014, attributing it to discrimination and a lack of inclusion.

Chinedu Uwabuofu, another PWD, described how inaccessible facilities at Delta State University affected his studies, forcing him to remain outside lecture halls due to a lack of disability-friendly infrastructure.

The town hall, supported by The Albino Foundation Africa, also examined gaps in healthcare access and broader welfare concerns affecting PWDs in Delta State and across the country.

Speakers at the event stressed the need for structural reforms to address exclusion, including improved public infrastructure, inclusive education systems, and targeted employment policies.

Interactive sessions allowed participants to present proposals aimed at improving inclusion at the community and policy levels, with calls for stronger accountability from government institutions.