BY OLAYINKA LATONA
Federal government has been called upon to  speedily sign into law the disability bill as an instrument that can improve welfare of the diabled in the country.

The call which was  made by the  Association for Comprehensive Empowerment of Nigerians with Disability (ASCEND).

National Secretary of the Association, According to Mr. Olusola Adeyefa who spoke on behalf of the Association during an official visit to Vanguard Media in Lagos,  said it was necessary to sensitise Nigerians on the significance of the 2011 theme of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities.

Adeyefa lamented the lack of proper integration of people with disabilities in society as part of the transformation agenda of the government. In his view, policy formation and its implementation at all arms and levels of government do not include qualified person with disabilities.

The International Day of Persons with Disabilities is observed every December 3  with an objective to promote awareness about disability issues,  fundamental rights of persons with disabilities and integration of persons with disabilities in the main stream of each aspect of the social, political, economic, and cultural status of their communities.

Adeyefa said it was disheartening government did not consider the 25 million Nigerians  living with disabilities in the current revision of the Nigerian constitution on national economic policies and the Millennium Developmental Goals. He, however, advocate that government should urgently act to mainstream disability in its development process.

The Association also appealed for the speeding up of the case of one Mr. Cosmas Okoli’s to ensure  justice is rightly done for restoration of his mandate.  He said Okoli had assured the physically challenge in his manifesto that life will be more meaningful for them by promoting effective legislation and oversight function.

“Okoli’s mandate we believe will go a long way to spur the much desired positive social change and bring the plight of the vulnerable to the front burner in policy formation and implementation.”