By BARTHOLOMEW MADUKWE
Following the concern of Lagos State Government on People with Disabilities (PWD), a group under the aegis of Lagos Civil Society Disability Policy Partnership, LCSDPP, has called on the private sector to support the state government in implementing the Lagos State Special People’s Law.

The Lagos State Government has promised to take all necessary steps to ensure the safety and protection of persons living with disability taking cognizance of their peculiar vulnerability and has said that no person shall employ, use or involve a person living with disability for alms begging.

No doubt, the PWDs constitute a significant proportion of the poorest of the poor and face inequalities in access to education, health care, employment, asset accumulation and opportunities for social and community participation.

A critical assessment on the increase of PWDs begging for alms on the streets have shown that more than 80% of People with Disabilities live in low and middle income parts of the society. Among this group, 30% are street youths and 20% are children with disabilities. PWDs are particularly more vulnerable to abuse and are victims of violence, rape or sexual abuse.

This can be juxtaposed with the words of former President of World Bank, Paul Wolfowwitz, who said: “people with disabilities are people with extra talents. Yet, they are often too forgotten. When people with disabilities are denied opportunities, they are more likely to fall into poverty. As long as societies exclude those with disabilities, they will not reach their full potential.”

LSCDPP, in a memo to the state governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN) proposed that the Lagos State Government approve and inaugurate the Public Private Sector Partnership on the implementation of the Lagos State People’s Law by the end of the second quarter of 2012.

The civil society group urged the private sector to invest in employment and economic empowerment, access to products and services and work place environment, noting that the need for support for accessible public infrastructure, information communication & technology and inclusive education for PWDs cannot be over-emphasized.

In its words: “The ability of investors to imbibe inclusive and disability-friendly practices and organizing work places and business environment, design, development, production and delivery of products and services such as: banking, telecoms, transportation, hotel, ICT, education, health, mass media, etc will increase turnovers and profits on investments as no potential consumer is left out.”

However, LCSDPP, has enjoined steady reduction of Government’s expenditures on disability issues especially through the setting-up of Lagos State Disability fund as provided by the Law, noting that it is not just about organizations giving money to people with disabilities but creating a working environment to accommodate PWDs in their organizations.

According to the Lagos State Special People’s Law, all employers of labour employing up to 100 persons shall reserve at least 1% of such workforce for qualified persons living with disability and government shall take steps to ensure the self reliance of persons living with disability and accordingly give adequate assistance to those of them who desire to be employed.

Dealing with the issue of discrimination, Lagos State Special People’s Law, which was enacted in 2011 stipulates in Chapter 21 (1) that no person living with disability shall be discriminated against on the ground of his or her disability by any person or institution in any manner or circumstances whatsoever.

“No employer shall be relieved of his employment on the ground of disability sustained during employment and an employer of labour whose employee sustained a disability shall retain and re-train the employee for effectiveness within the organization” the Law states.

The law is aimed at safeguarding all persons with disabilities against all forms of discrimination and equating their opportunities in all aspects of living in the society.