Center for Citizen with Disabilities (CCD) wants Disability law passed



ODINAKA EZEOKA in this report, says that the Center for Citizen with Disabilities (CCD) has pleaded with Anambra state House of assembly to pass disability bill that will grant criminalization of all forms of discrimination and harmful practices against Ndi Anambra with disabilities.

CCD also urged the National Assembly to urgently strengthen section 52(2) of the 2010 electoral act by making the provision of Braille and sign language interpreters mandatory as opposed to leaving it to the desecration of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as the case is today. 

The Executive Director CCD, David Anyaele  appreciated the media, the INEC and the Nigerian police for their efforts in including the PWDs in electioneering and electoral process in Nigeria but insists that Nigeria is still far from international good practices saying that INEC and other stakeholders in electoral process to take a practical steps and do the needful for all inclusive society and equal voting access to persons with disabilities in Nigeria.

The Center for Citizen with Disabilities (CCD) in partnership with Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities(JONAPWD) during the just concluded governorship election in Anambra State deployed selected but well trained 45 persons with disabilities(PWDs) observers covering the 3 senatorial districts of the state using statistical principles and information and communication technologies( ICTs), to observe the November 18, 2017 election.

Anyaele  while briefing newsmen said that the methodology adopted for the exercise was random sampling of polling units in all the local government area.

The PWD observers in spite of their disabilities turned in their checklist in less than 24 hours after the election observation, he added.

Speaking on the pre-election consultation the director said that several consultation meetings and briefing were held with INEC officials to access INEC preparedness for the election and to access the synergy between INEC, security agent and stakeholders and discovers that the significant numbers of venues used by NEC were not accessible by physically challenged persons.  This is a clear indication that PWDs were not put in view in determining the the venue of such important meetings. He said.
He equally lamented on the distribution of braille information, education and communication materials to Nigeria Association of the blind (NAB) Anambra chapter which came 48 hours to the election day adding that without logistics it is evident that provisions for persons with disabilities were poor.

The chairman (JONAPWD) commended his Excellency Willie Obiano for his re-election and also urge the governor to continue his good attitude towards people with disabilities.

Center for Citizen with Disabilities (CCD) wants Disability law passed Center for Citizen with Disabilities (CCD) wants Disability law passed   Reviewed by Unknown on Monday, November 27, 2017 Rating: 5

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