The Government of Cross River State says it has passed a bill in the House of Assembly for which albinos and people with disabilities will be included in the affairs of the state.
The Secretary to the State Government SSG, Prof. Anthony Owan Enoh, stated this when he received members of Joint National Association of Persons With Disabilities (JONAPWD) in company with Founder of Offiong Okon Foundation for Physical Disability in his office.
Pledging to adequately Include persons living with disabilities and albinos in governance, the SSG said, “In terms of the law, we have already passed a bill in the House of Assembly for which we have thought about inclusion of people with disabilities in the affairs of the state, that have been recognized and been pursued.”
He said the state has done very well by involving persons with disabilities in the management of affairs in the state, saying that the request that they have made is not new.
“Even now, the issue of our buildings been audited to ensure that we really get compliance so that people with disabilities can also have access to our facilities,” he explained.
On their request of inclusion in employment, Owan-Eno said “we have always employed them as SAs and as PAs, we have always done that but we are going to do much more.”
“That is a big point of attention which we would do. Any public building is not only for the able but also for the disabled,” he said.
State Chairman of the Joint National Association of Persons With Disabilities (JONAPWD) Mr. Livinus Ibingha, said that they have been advocating seriously for the holistic inclusion of persons with disabilities.
He recalled that there was a bill passed by the Assembly, and assented to by the immediate past governor, Prof. Ben Ayade, waiting for the establishment of a Commission.
Mr. Ibingha said that the issue was presented before His Excellency through the SSG, and that he has assured them that he was going to make sure they go to the governor to re-echo what they have presented before him because it is a commission that will air the views of persons with disability in the state.
On his part, the Convener of The Albino Foundation (TAF) Africa, Mr. Jake Epelle, while expressing high hopes in the current administration said that they are willing to partner in developing guidelines for the forthcoming local government election.
His words “We are interested in ensuring that the government carries along persons with disability in all spheres of governance.”