Oyo State Disability Law 2017 Needs Urgent Amendment – CCD Stakeholders

*Hold workshop in Ibadan

By; BAYO AKAMO, Ibadan

The Centre for Citizens with Disabilities (CDD) has advocated for an urgent amendment of the Oyo State Persons Living with Disability (PLWD) Law 2017 to ensure more inclusiveness.

At a workshop in Ibadan to review the law, CDD identified gaps and recommended reforms for better rights protection of People with Disabilities (PWDs).

Speaking, Mr Timothy Omole representing Spaces for Change, said the name PLWD was discriminatory, non-compliant with global standards and not disability-sensitive, stressing the need to replace it with PWDs.

Mr Omole maintained that the provisions of the law on freedom of association and assembly were weak, calling for reforms that would guarantee PWDs more inclusive civic participation.

The NHRC Coordinator in Oyo State, Mr Abayomi Ogundele in his remarks identified the law’s weak enforcement as a major gap.

Urging the government to demonstrate the political will to prosecute violators of disability rights, Mr Ogundele, called for strict compliance with all existing laws before any further amendment, assuring that NHRC would collaborate with stakeholders to achieve meaningful outcomes.

Oyo state Chairman of Joint National Association of Persons with Disability (JONAPWD),
Mr Femi Ajulo while speaking lamented the impeded access of PWDs to education, rights and opportunities due to the law’s slow implementation.

Represented by Mr Raheem Olatunji, Mr Ajulo stressed that accessibility to public infrastructure remained very low.

He then called on the Oyo state government to ensure inclusiveness for all categories of PWDs.

An independent consultant, Dr Toyin Aderemi-Balogun in his comments pointed out the absence of gender considerations in the law, noting that women with disabilities face unique challenges that must be addressed through policy reforms.

She also called for stronger provisions on disaster response and transportation, stressing that PWDs must be protected during emergencies, recovery and in accessing mobility.

CDD Project Officer, Mrs Christiana Njoku, stated that the organisation would embark on advocacy visits to the Oyo State House of Assembly to secure amendments of identified gaps.

Mrs Njoku stressed that the existing law did not align with the United Nations Convention, especially regarding rights to association and protection against discrimination.

According to her, the ultimate goal is to secure a disability law that guarantees fairness, inclusiveness, and dignity, while ensuring PWDs enjoy full benefits under the law.

CCD organised the workshop in partnership with the Action Group on Free Civic Space and Funds for Global Human Rights and the
workshop brought together PWDs, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC).