The Centre for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD) has called on Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom to sign the Discrimination against Persons With Disabilities (PWDs) Act into law.

David Anyaele, the group’s executive director, made the appeal in a statement in Uyo on Saturday.

He urged Mr Emmanuel to take appropriate measures to protect citizens with disabilities without further delay by adopting the Disabilities Act.

Mr Anyaele further mentioned other states that were yet to pass the act to include Adamawa, Bayelsa, Benue, Borno, Delta, Ebonyi, Enugu, Imo, Ogun, Osun, Katsina, Kebbi, Gombe, Rivers, Taraba, and Yobe.

He commended the state governments that had adopted the Act 2018 or passed disability laws in their states.

“We are excited to join disability movements across the globe to commemorate this year’s International Day of Persons with Disabilities.

“December 3 is a date set aside annually for the observance of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities. The day was proclaimed in 1992 by the United Nations General Assembly resolution 47/3,” Mr Anyaele said.

He said that the observance of the day aimed to promote an understanding of disability issues and mobilise support for the dignity, rights, and well-being of persons with disabilities.

“It also seeks to increase awareness of gains to be derived from the integration of persons with disabilities in every aspect of political, social, economic, and cultural life,” he said.

The theme of this year’s event is “Transformative Solutions for Inclusive Development: The Role of Innovation in Fueling an Accessible and Equitable World.“

He noted that the year’s event was an opportunity to reflect and ask critical questions on the extent to which the federal government and its subnational were responsive to the full integration of persons with disabilities into society.

Mr Anyaele called on members of the federal and state Houses of Assembly to demand budgetary provisions and activities from all ministries, departments, and agencies to fully implement the disability law.

He alleged that the ministries, departments, and agencies of federal and states are doing little or nothing to ensure the full implementation of the law.

He stated that the election campaigns were ongoing across the federation; unsurprisingly, issues of critical importance to the disability community were missing in the manifestos of the front line of political parties.

Mr Anyaele explained that poverty was the major cause of disability across the world, even as the disability itself pushed individuals into poverty as well.

“We are worried that while we are clamouring for the reduction of incidence of disability in our society, it is alarming to note that more than 133 million Nigerians have been plunged into different dimensions of poverty.”

(NAN)