The Persons With Disabilities (PWDs) community in Imo State has made a strong case for the establishment of a disability commission in the state.

The state Chairman of the Joint National Association of Persons With Disabilities (JONAPWD), Chidubem Ekwelem, made the appeal while speaking at a workshop on Wednesday.

The workshop is on the inclusion of PWDs in the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) benefit structures.

The three-day workshop was organised by the Centre for Citizens With Disabilities (CCD) with support from Ford Foundation.

Mr Ekwelem, a legal practitioner, said that the commission, when established, “would eliminate third party services and enable PWDs to interact directly with government.’’

He thanked Governor Hope Uzodimma for signing the Disability Act into law and expressed the confidence that he would soon give approval for the establishment of the commission.

He commended the state’s Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Welfare for its support in promoting the advocacy for PWDs.

Speaking, the Founding Executive Director of CCD and Chairman of the Abia State Disability Commission, David Anyaele, said that the centre pushed for the inclusion of PWDs as beneficiaries during the enactment of the PIA but without success.

Mr Anyaele said that the Act provides for consultation with youths and women groups in the Niger Delta, but remained silent on the inclusion of PWDs, hence the workshop.

He said, “A percentage of the benefits from the PIA is reserved for community projects, such as schools and hospitals, but unfortunately, due to the non-inclusion of PWDs in the framework, most of these facilities are not disability friendly. There is no institutional framework to target PWDs in this region. We, therefore, call for the inclusion and participation of PWDs in PIA implementation through mainstreaming, as members of advisory and management councils and trust fund.’’

He urged PWDs to educate host community leaders and oil companies on their roles and responsibilities through the demand charter, which could be used for public sensitisation on PWD needs in the Niger Delta region.

Mr Anyaele is a Special Assistant to Governor Alex Otti on Persons with Disabilities in Abia. 

(NAN)