The Centre for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD), a non- governmental organisation, says it is partnering the Lagos State Office for Disability Affairs (LASODA) to enhance the participation of women, young people and elder persons with disabilities in the political process.
Consequently , it called for the implementation of disability law in Lagos State to improve participation of people living with disabilities in the electoral and political process.
Mr David Anyaele, the Executive Director of CCD, made the call during an advocacy visit to the Lagos State Office for Disability Affairs (LASODA) on Friday in Lagos.
Anyaele said, “The purpose of this advocacy project is to enhance the implementation of disability law in Lagos state, improve participation of People With Disabilities (PWDs) the electoral and political process of Lagos State.
“This project is supported by Voice Nigeria, a programme of Oxfam and the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
“The outcome of this meeting is that LASODA is going to partner with CCD to enhance the participation of women, young people and elder persons with disabilities in the political process.
“LASODA has also committed to ensure that PWDs in Lagos state access justice on an equal basis with others.
“They also assured us that they are going to support us with all the necessary logistics to enhance this program of PWDs participation in the political process.”
Anyaele said that the project which started in September 2021 would run through 2023.
Members of CCD had also visited the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) office on Wednesday to advocate for the inclusion and participation of PWDs in electoral process.
Responding, Mr Oluwadamilare Ogundairo, the General Manager of LASODA, said the visit was a good one, noting that it was in the interest of PWDs in the state.
Ogundairo commended CCD for always being at the forefront of advocating for the right of PWDs in the country.
“I think this courtesy call and the meeting with CCD is a good development and Lagos State has always been a civil society state.
“The Lagos State Special Peoples Law is part of the product of such synergy between the Lagos State Government and the civil society which brings opportunities for great ideas, improved policy and governance.
“CCD was in the forefront of the process and the agitation that led to the signing of Lagos State special people’s law and by extension, the creation of LASODA.
“The way you agitate when you want to establish an office is different from the way you agitate when you want to sustain and consolidate on the existing structure,” he said.
Ogundairo said that LASODA would continue to partner NGOs and Civil Society Organisations to make life comfortable for PWDs.
“I hope more civil society organisations will embrace more synergies, more cooperation and partnership with the government, partiularly LASODA because there is so much that needs to be done.
“We need to understand how the government works and the structures and processes of governance and how to channel our demands and I think that’s what CCD has demonstrated today.
“So, we look forward to more NGOs, organisations and organised private sector coming forward with such a conciliatory gesture for partnership,” he said.
He added that effort would be put in place to ensure that PWDs were provided with all the necessary support they need to enable them actively participate in the political process.
“We need to start engaging relevant authorities to ensure that a fair and equitable ground is provided for PWDs in order to participate in the electoral process.
“We are happy that Lagos State is setting the pace in efforts to include PWDs in political activities and also in the last local government elections, a PWD emerged as a councilor.
“We are aware that part of the rights of PWDs we should protect, is also their political right and we are not shying away from that responsibility,” he said.