The Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD), Federal Capital Territory chapter, has renewed its call for the establishment of a disability agency in the FCT, warning that policies without structures cannot deliver real inclusion.
The group made the call during an advocacy visit to the Mandate Secretary, Women Affairs Secretariat, Dr Mrs Dayo Benjamin-Laniyi, in Abuja.
Speaking during the meeting, the Acting Chairman of JONAPWD FCT, Ayoade Beyioku-Alase, commended ongoing efforts, including the FCT Disability Policy and the Disability Desk initiative, but stressed the need for a functional agency to drive implementation.
“The reason is clear. Without a functional agency, policies lack the structure required for effective implementation, monitoring and enforcement,” he said.
He noted that although about 25 states have domesticated the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act, 2018, the FCT still lags behind.
Beyioku-Alase described employment as a key pathway out of poverty, urging the enforcement of the statutory five per cent employment quota for persons with disabilities across all FCT Secretariats.
He also called for inclusive social protection programmes and targeted skills acquisition initiatives to promote economic empowerment.
On healthcare, the group urged collaboration with the Health Secretariat to ensure free health insurance for persons with disabilities and the deployment of sign language interpreters in major hospitals.
The association further appealed for annual subvention and provision of office space, noting that its current operations are sustained through personal contributions, which it described as unsustainable.
JONAPWD also emphasised the need for accessible public infrastructure, including ramps, Braille, and interpretation services, as well as the inclusion of disability-specific data in government planning.
“You cannot manage what you do not measure,” Beyioku-Alase said, stressing the importance of data-driven policies.
The group also acknowledged the impact of the Renewed Hope Initiative led by the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, noting that the empowerment of 250 persons with disabilities in the FCT with N200,000 each had provided relief and restored hope.
JONAPWD reaffirmed its readiness to partner with the FCT Administration, expressing optimism that with political will and sustained collaboration, the territory can become a model for disability inclusion in Nigeria.
The association stressed that its demands are not about charity but the full implementation of rights already guaranteed by law.