FIC Report (Abia State) – The Abia State House of Assembly has passed into law the H.A.B 23: “A Bill for a law to establish the Abia State Welfare For The Disabled Persons and Other Matters incidental thereto.
The Passage of the Law followed the consideration of the Bill at the Committee of the whole House which was chaired by the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Chinedum Enyinnaya Orji and in it’s 3rd reading.
The bill after due consideration by Members of the State House of Assembly was passed into Law with the Speaker announcing that upon being Assented to by the Governor, it shall be deemed to have come into force on the 31st day of August, 2022.
Speaking with Newsmen,the Deputy Majority Leader and Member representing Ukwa East State Constituency, Hon. Paul Taribo who is the Sponsor of the Bill described it as a landmark Bill that will go a long way to place the destiny of the Persons with Disabilities in their hands.
Taribo expressed gratitude to the Speaker and other Members of the House for ensuring that the Bill is passed into Law adding that with the interest and commitment of the Executive.
The Deputy Majority Leader is confident that it will soon be assented to and implemented to give persons with disabilities a sense of belonging.
In a related development, the Executive Director, Centre for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD), David Obinna Anyaele has expressed joy on the news of the passage of Abia State Disability Bill by Rt. Hon. Chinedu Orji led House of Assembly. The Passage of this Bill is a strong demonstration by the Abia State House of Assembly that all lives are precious, in particular, the lives of Abians with disabilities.
Persons with Disabilities in Abia State are the most excluded in governance at the sub-national level in Nigeria due to absence of legal framework for the protection of the rights and dignity.
With the passage of this bill, the end of exclusion of Abians with disabilities in governance by State and none State actors is coming to an end.
He, however, called on the Clerk, Abia State House of Assembly to speedily clean up the Bill for onward transmission to the State Governor for his Assent and also called on Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu not to hesitate to sign the Bill into Law as his Wife has committed so much to get this bill passed.
The Executive Director thanked the Wife of the Governor of Abia State, Mrs. Nkechi Ikpeazu for her solidarity with the Disability Community during this campaign for the passage of the Bill, Mrs. Ikpeazu addressed the House of Assembly on the 15th of July 2021 on the need to pass the Disability Bill.
Concluding, he appreciated the Disability Community in Abia State for the resilience, consistency, and pushing in advocating and lobbying for the passage of the Bill believing that together we shall overcome.
Okugo Nwadiuto Mabel
FIC, House Of Assembly Correspondent
