Group Urges Government to Include Disable Persons in Decision Making

Group Urges Government to Include Disable Persons in Decision Making

By Emma Ogoigbe, Warri

12/6/25

The Centre for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD), a non-governmental organization based in Nigeria has advocated the inclusion of persons with disabilities in all government decision making to end discrimination and marginalization of disabled persons.

While declaring open the 3-day workshop in Effurun, Delta State for the participants with support from Ford Foundation, the chairman of Abia State Disability Commission and initiator of the programme, Mr. David Obinna Anyaele said that the workshop was designed to encourage and sensitize the public particularly the government of Nigeria on the reasons why disable persons should be included in all decision making.

He said advocacy and campaign for the rights and privileges of the disabled persons cannot be overemphasized, adding that they will continue to draw attention of the government to the plights of the disabled persons.

Focusing on the topic: “Ending Barrier Against Niger-Deltans with Disabilities (EBAN), Obinna Anyaele who is the Founder of CCD dwelt on how people with disabilities could benefit from the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), noting that from OMPADEC till now not much has been done to uplift the living standard of people with disabilities in the Niger Delta region.

He said that many structures and facilities (Government Institutions) were built without considering the condition of the disabled persons, urging the government henceforth to always consider the disabled in their policies and programmes to the benefit of the disabled persons.

“PIA should design a programme that will benefit people with disabilities. The PIA didn’t mention how disabled persons will benefit from their programmes. We are saying that the PIA and other agencies should have specified provision for the disabled persons in the Niger Delta. They should be included both in short term and long term programmes that could benefit them. The qualified disabled person(s) should be engaged in viable positions to contribute their quota. They should also be given skill acquisition training to make them more productive. They should not be neglected as many of them are talented and resourceful”.

Obinna Anyaele urged the government and humanitarian organizations or agencies to know the needs of people with disabilities before drafting and implementing their policies and programmes.

According to him “About 16% of the world population (1.3 Billion persons) has one form of disability. In 2018, about 29 million Nigerians are with disability of one form or the other (According to World Bank). Disability growth rate in Nigeria is increasing owing to consistent conflict, violence, accidents and poor health care system”

He suggested that the Host Community Trust Funds budget preparation that will be submitted to the Board of Trustees should have the input of the disabled persons.

“The HCFs is to be incorporated within 12 Months effective for existing oil mining lease, existing designated facilities and for now facilities under construction on the effective state, adding that disabled persons should be given opportunity for employment and participate in politics.

He disclosed that the United Nations Convention on Human Rights treaty protects, promotes and ensures the equal employment of all human rights and fundamental freedom by all disabled persons, adding that Nigeria has ratified the United Nation Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities in 2007 on its optional Protocol in 2010.

“The UNCRPD contains 50 Articles with 26 Articles covering all areas of life, from health, Education and employment to equality before the law, freedom from Exploitation, Violence and Abuse and Accessibility.”

“The CCD has expressed concern that the Government at all levels has not effectively implemented the National Disability Act signed into law on January 17, 2019. Nigeria is a signatory to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the Sustainable Development Goals which affirms that no one should be left behind in the Development Agenda; therefore, it is imperative that People with Disabilities and the issues affecting them are effectively integrated into the Benefit Structures and Strategies of the Implementation of the PIA”

In the Demand Charter Template, they called on all stakeholders to recognize and address the rights and needs of People with Disabilities in the Niger Delta.

In his presentation, the Acting Director of CCD, Mr. Godwin Unumeri said that people with disabilities suffers all forms of discriminations and marginalization which they have made known to the appropriate authorities, adding that they have also made request to be included in the plans and implementation particularly in the nine oil producing States of the Niger Delta.

He urged the oil producing states and the government to develop a model and programme that will benefit disabled persons from oil producing states.

He disclosed that Delta State is the six States they have organized this programme, urging the participants to go to their various communities and educate the people they represent so that they also benefit.

Unumeri stated that the responsibility of the Management Committee shall be mandated by the constitution of HCFs to set up an advisory body with one member from each committee. “They should consider environmental challenges in decision making and also to determine the specific need of the community as well as integrating disabled persons into the PIA to be able to benefit.”

The Chairman of Delta State Chapter of Joint National Association of Persons with Disability, Comrade Ernest Igbuzor said the programme has serves as eye opener to the people with disability on the PIA as to the formation of the BOT, Advisory committee and the Host Community Trust Funds and the exclusion of persons with disability.

He stated that they have made efforts to engage the critical stakeholders on a holistic inclusion of persons with disability subsequently in all major programmes.

Dr. Abulu Bright, BOT Egbema Host Community Development Trust Fund managing the PIA, suggested that people with Disabilities should be included in all their programmes and activities.

The participants were drawn from the clusters’ members of disabled persons across the 25 local government areas of Delta State.