Osun government sends disability bill to house of assembly

The Osun state government has sent the disability bill to the house of assembly for consideration, saying it will create a more inclusive society,

With this, Osun has joined the list of states in the country catering for the well-being of people with disabilities (PWDs).

Adewale Egbedun, the speaker of the house, spoke on the bill on Tuesday during the proceedings at the assembly complex in Osogbo, the state capital.

According to him, the bill is meant to protect PWDs in the state.

Several efforts have been made in the past to present the bill, but the attempts were unsuccessful. Hope was restored when Adewunmi Adeyemi, lawmaker representing Obokun state constituency, presented the bill.

While receiving the leadership of the Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD), Osun state chapter, Adeyemi said the presentation was done to improve the quality of lives of PWDs in the state.

He added that Ademola Adeleke, the governor of the state will be very willing to sign it.

“I appreciate JONAPWD for the good work it is doing and for the visit to my office. The bill is to protect the interest of people with disabilities in Osun state. It has been read in the house. Very soon, it will pass the first reading, second reading and third reading as well as assented to by the governor,” he said.

“The bill will prohibit discrimination against people with disabilities, grant them access to free education, free healthcare, access to government property and at least 10 per cent of government employment opportunities.

“It simply means that there will be a percentage given to people with disabilities in terms of employment, providing a sense of belonging to them.”

The leadership of JONAPWD were present at the Osun state house of assembly to witness the presentation of the bill.

Stephen Oluwafemi, chairman of Osun state chapter of JONAPWD, expressed the association’s excitement over the bill, stating that members have been working on the bill for 12 years.

“I’m so glad because what we have prayed for, for a long time, is coming to fruition. We want the bill to be domesticated in Osun as it has been passed at the national level,” Oluwafemi said.

“We are happy because we have been expecting this day. We hope the bill will be passed this year so that by next year, we will start a new life and it will be an achievement in our lives because we will have the feeling of inclusion in Osun state.”

He said members of the association are pleased to know that their efforts are yielding positive results.