The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has called for a joint task force to enforce the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities Act, 2018.

NSCDC deputy commandant (disability desk) Patience Ogabanya-Andepu said this on Thursday in Abuja at the commemoration of the fifth anniversary of the Disability Act, organised by the Centre for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD).

Mr Ogabanya-Andepu said there was a need for security agencies saddled with these mandates to ensure compliance, form a joint task force, and work collectively.

She said this would boost compliance with the law across the country.

“Aside from the need for training and retraining of officers, especially disability desk officers, there is also a need to create a joint task force with other agencies.

“The NSCDC is doing a lot on its part to ensure compliance within the corps and outside, and we believe so much has been done in other agencies. But I believe there is a need to synergise with other sister security agencies to work together to ensure full compliance and enhance a disability-inclusive society,” she said.

The deputy commandant said that a joint task force would also guide the security agencies’ activities and ensure the same momentum and principles were channelled toward ensuring compliance.

The director of gender and inclusivity, Dorothy Bello, commended CCD for providing a platform for stakeholders to share experiences and proffer ways to ensure compliance with the law.

Mr Bello said such periodic meetings would serve as reminders to others on the need to do the needful to ensure an inclusive society.

“This meeting is a reminder for INEC to be aware of the need to include PWDs in all its plans. The meeting serves as a reminder for everyone that the time given to us to do the right thing is over.

“And now the law is going to be demanding for the right thing to be done, so this meeting is set in the right direction,” she said.

Magdalene Ajani, the permanent secretary of the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, said that the ministry was working to ensure full compliance with the law.

Ms Ajani said the ministry was aware of the provisions of the act and had implemented some aspects of it.

“I am sure some of you have been to our ministry, and you have seen what we are doing. In our ministry, we are working to eliminate barriers limiting PWDs. We have a disability desk and we have five workers with disabilities and we are pleased to work with them,” she said.

Chidinma Ilechukwu, a representative of ROLAC/International IDEA, urged disability communities not to relent in ensuring compliance with the law in the country.

(NAN)