By Nasir Shuaibu
Stakeholders in Bauchi State have called for greater inclusion of persons with disabilities in governance and development, stressing that decisions affecting them must be made with their active participation.
The stakeholders made the call on Wednesday during a media roundtable on the implementation of the Bauchi State Persons with Disability Commission Law at the MHWUN Secretariat, Bauchi.
The meeting brought together government representatives, media practitioners, civil society organisations, development partners and representatives of persons with disabilities to examine progress and challenges in implementing the law.
Delivering the keynote address, the Assistance Head Programme Officer, Rukayyat Bilyamin Othman said persons with disabilities should be treated as equal citizens entitled to rights, opportunities and dignity, rather than recipients of charity.
She said effective implementation of the law should guarantee access to public infrastructure, inclusive education, healthcare and employment.
Othman stressed the need for adequate funding and capacity building for the commission, alongside effective enforcement against institutions that fail to comply with accessibility requirements.
She said exclusion of persons with disabilities from economic activities represented a loss to the state, arguing that inclusive policies would enable them to contribute more meaningfully to Bauchi's development.
Earlier, the Isma'il Umar he's the Head of Monitoring and Evaluation of Iqrah Foundation said the roundtable was designed to deepen understanding of the law, identify implementation gaps and develop practical actions for stakeholders.
Participants resolved that persons with disabilities and their representative organisations should be meaningfully involved in policy processes and decisions affecting their lives, in line with the principle of “Nothing about us without us.”
They further called for continuous awareness campaigns on the law, stronger collaboration between government and disability organisations, regular documentation of implementation challenges and sustained advocacy by civil society and the media.
The stakeholders also agreed that the media should give greater attention to disability-related issues, promote public understanding of the law and highlight both progress and gaps in its implementation.
They stressed that the effectiveness of the legislation would ultimately be measured by improvements in the daily lives, rights and opportunities of persons with disabilities across Bauchi State.
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