Group Lauds Ugwuanyi For Signing Disability Bill Into Law, Appeals For Commission

The Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD), Enugu State chapter has lauded Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi for signing Enugu State Discrimination Against People With Disabilities Prohibition Bill into law.

The group passionately appealed to Gov. Ugwuanyi to gazette procedure of the signed Disability Law in order to formalize the establishment of Enugu State Disability Commission (ESDC) as provided by the Law for a smooth takeoff before he leaves offices in May.

They added that in doing so, the governor’s good name shall be written in Gold as the new administration takes over office by May.

This, they said shall be indeed a parting gift and an indelible legacy that posterity shall remember him for.

Comrade Onyebuchi Mba, chairman,
JONAPWD Enugu stated this in statement on Thursday in Enugu where PWDs in the state expressed their profound gratitude to Gov. Ugwuanyi for his immense contributions to Enugu Disability community.

According to Mba, Gov. Ugwuanyi gave executive backing that saw the introduction of Enugu State Discrimination Against PWFs Prohibition Bill into the Legislative Chamber in October, 2022 and the subsequent considerations that cumulated to the passage of the Bill into Law by the State Assembly on the 4th of April, 2023,

“This singular act, futher demonstrate your compassion and passion for this special community you have in few days given your assent to the Disability Rights Bill by making it become an operational law in Enugu State.

“No doubt your benevolence have inspired within us the self confidence to succeed through inclusive society on equal bases for all in governance and respect for human dignity.

“We are delighted to express our deep appreciation and gratitude to you in your Executive assent to this all important Bill within two weeks of it’s passage by the House Members and for all your disability friendly dispositions since you assumed office in 2015 till date,” Mbah said.

He added that Gov. Ugwuany’s goodwill towards the community of persons with disabilities were too Numerous to mention, this, he said ranging from his annual sponsorship of some of the blind folks from three senatorial zones to the Nigeria farm craft centre Lagos through the Ministry of Gender and Social Development Affairs.

Others include given out scholarship to 18 visually impaired undergraduates during your 1st tenure in office.

“You also employed 50 disabled persons into the state civil service with so many charitable gestures in your philanthropic character and ever ready to do more.

“Through this acts you have clearly demonstrated that you are lovely committed to the welfare of the vulnerable and committed to serve Ndi-Enugu inclusively, and you do not discriminate against anyone irrespective of his/her social economic status).

“We are very elated with appreciation to your magnanimity and sense of belonging dispositions to this special community.

“Our prayer is that God shall continue to shower you and your family with his grace of preservations.

“We forever remain thankful to the Honourable Members of the State Assembly and the principal officers led by the Distinguished Speaker (Hon. Uchenna Ubosi) for working and producing this workable document that registers our dear State to the Universally designed principals for inclusive society.

“We cannot stop thanking you all in the media space and the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) Enugu State led by Comrade Sam Udekwe for amplifying our voices.

“Thank you immensely Dr Ifeoma Chukwuma, Lady Onyinye Mamah, Catherine Edeh and her VDI team, Mrs Mariam Menkiti, CCD Nigeria, Association of Lawyers with Disabilities and other CSOs to this noble achievement.,” Mba added