Al-Makura assents to bill establishing Disability Rights Commission

Gov. Umaru Al-Makura of Nasarawa State has signed into law the bill to establish Disability Rights Commission.

Prof. Jonathan Ayuba, the Commissioner for Special Education, Science and Technology, disclosed this to our reporter in Lafia on Tuesday.

According to him, with the governor’s assent, the government is now working to put up structures and modalities in place to have the commission.

Ayuba said that the government was also shopping for individuals that would manage the commission.

The commissioner commended the House of Assembly for passing the bill within reasonable time, explaining that the the law defines the rights and privileges of physically challenged persons.

“With this law guiding how such persons will be provided for, their lives will soon be better and they will have a cause to smile,” he said.

According to him, the law is the template for improving the quality of lives of the physically challenged and will help regulate, guide and remove impediments on their paths.

He added that the governor had also given approvals to the ministry to conduct the census of people with disabilities to help the government plan for their welfare.

Ayuba said that the ministry was partnering with the National Population Commission for a successful census of those with disabilities in the state.

The commissioner assured the physically challenged persons that the ministry would come up with a lot of programmes which would better their living condition.

He, therefore, advised them to make maximum use of the opportunity provided, adding that “physical deformity should not be an impediment to achieving dreams”.