By Moses Nosike

Disability rights Fund and a non governmental group, Hope Inspired Foundation for women and youths with disabilities collaborate to launch disability framework which calls on government to get them involved in community governance. 

This assertion was made at the official launch of the local government disability framework which took place on April 30, 2025 at the International Press Centre, Ogba, Lagos. 

The event which saw top official of the foundation, Donald Okon, hosted General Manager, Lagos State Office for Disability Affairs, Mrs Adenike Oyetunde Lawal who was humbly represented by Dr Adekola Oluwafunmilayo Theresa. 

Also, the initiative welcomed the idea of the state Honourable Commissioner, Chieftaincy and Local Government, Kayode Robert who was represented by Omiwale Adewale alongside Chairman, Ojodu Local Council Development Area, Honorable Olatunji Kogbodoku, represented by Olusegun Odunmbaku. 

Highlighting the importance of the initiative, Donald Okon said, “it’s high time government takes up the responsibility to ensure protection and promotion of the rights, welfare and inclusion of persons living with disabilities into community governance”. 

Okon urged the government to fasten supportive legal and policy framework which will help people living with disability get worthwhile attention.

He further said, “In Nigeria, the federal and up to 20 state governments have already put in place series of disability rights, legal and policy frameworks in this direction. A general appraisal of disability rights laws at federal and state levels indicate the absence of provisions which assign roles and responsibilities to local governments in the protection and promotion of the rights, welfare and inclusion of persons living with disabilities”. 

According to him, due to the absence of a local government disability framework, up to 95% of persons with disabilities who reside in local communities which fall within the administrative purview of local government councils are compelled to live in extremely poor socio-economic conditions and are unable to escape from poverty traps. 

“Their living conditions are further worsened by the lack of access to basic social services provided by local government councils.”

“We’re staging this for there are no provisions in any existing legal and policy frameworks in Nigeria which directly provides for disability inclusion in the functions and responsibilities of local government councils. We are also appealing to the government to establish disability-focused institutions, provide accessible public physical infrastructure, collection of disability-disaggregated population data, provision of education services and employment amongst others,” he stated. 

Responding to this, all concerned agencies and representatives presented at the event, showed empathy while promising to do the needful in due time. 

“We’ve heard all your needs and I promise I’ll report all to necessary quarters. People with disabilities are as equal as every other citizens and I can assure you the government of the day will hearken to your voice. I urged you all to keep the good work going while I report all as an humble servant,” Oluwafunmilayo assured. 

“ You all know the current LCDA chairman, Ojodu is a man of the people, he never discriminate and sending me here as a representative shows his interest for the well being of his people. He has lot of plans in the offings which will benefit all and I urge everyone to keep fingers crossed ahead of great things he’s yet to do,” Odunmbaku assured.