ASABA/Nigeria: In a significant step towards promoting inclusivity and safeguarding the rights of persons living with disabilities, the Delta State House of Assembly has successfully passed the “Delta State Persons Living with Disability Bill 2023” through its second reading.
Led by the bill’s primary sponsor, Hon Marylyn Okowa-Daramola, who represents the Ika North East Constituency, the assembly engaged in extensive deliberations during Wednesday’s plenary session, presided over by Speaker Emomotimi Dennis Guwor.
Emotionally charged, Okowa-Daramola highlighted the merits of the proposed legislation, emphasizing its alignment with existing national laws. She underscored the bill’s commitment to ensuring equal opportunities for persons with disabilities across various aspects of societal life.
“The bill, backed by 19 co-sponsors, seeks to safeguard people living with disability against all forms of discrimination, equalize their opportunities in all aspects of living in the society, as well as establish the Delta State Commission for Persons with Disability and other related matters,” she stated.
Okowa-Daramola detailed the comprehensive nature of the bill, consisting of three parts and 51 clauses. One of its key objectives is to establish special schools, both primary and secondary, in all 25 local government areas of the state, catering to the specific needs of individuals with disabilities.
Among the bill’s provisions, it aims to ensure that all public buses allocate and appropriately mark one out of every ten seats for persons with disabilities. The proposed Delta State Commission for Persons with Disability would be entrusted with policy formation, implementation, data collation, and record-keeping, as well as addressing complaints of rights violations.
Furthermore, the bill empowers individuals with disabilities to seek damages in the event of a violation of their fundamental human rights. It explicitly forbids subjecting them to any medical or scientific experiments without their consent, torture, cruelty, inhumane, or degrading treatment.
Key members of the assembly, including Deputy Speaker Arthur Akpowowo, Majority Leader Emeka Nwaobi, Chief Whip Perkins Umukoro, and others, commended the bill as timely and endorsed its prompt passage. Members representing various constituencies acknowledged the potential of the legislation to uphold the rights of the physically challenged and unlock their latent talents for the overall betterment of society.
The Speaker, Emomotimi Guwor, applauding the robust debates on the bill, referred it to the House joint Committees on Housing, Women Affairs, Girl Child Entrepreneurship, and Humanitarian Support Services, as well as the Special Committee on Bills. The committees are expected to report back to the House within two weeks.
Physically changed individuals present at the plenary expressed gratitude for the lawmakers’ support and voiced optimism about the positive impact of the bill. They specifically thanked Hon Marylyn Okowa-Daramola for spearheading the initiative. The bill’s progress signals a promising future for the rights and opportunities of persons living with disabilities in Delta State.
