Ogun Assembly underscores essence of disability protection, violence prohibition Bills

Ogun State House of Assembly has said that the essence of the Bill for a law to eliminate all forms of discrimination against persons with disabilities is to create a level playing field to attain their goal without any hindrance.

The Speaker, Honourable Suraju Adekunbi, who disclosed this while declaring open a stakeholders’ forum on the bill said that the forum was an avenue for the people of the state to contribute their input to the bill to have an all-inclusive legislation.

Adekunbi, represented by his deputy, Honourable Olakunle Oluomo, said the bill would protect the physically challenged in view of the alarming rate of discrimination and harmful treatment against persons living with disabilities in the society.

“The assembly, in its bid to address this occurrence facing people living with disability in our society initiated this bill to eliminate all forms of discrimination or barriers facing them in order to enjoy equal opportunities with able bodied people in all ramifications,” Adekunbi said.

In the same vein, a bill for a law prohibiting all forms of violence against persons was also played host to stakeholders.

The speaker in company of some members of the assembly stressed the need to protect people, especially the vulnerable group against any form of violence so as to promote equity, equality and justice.

He noted that the two bills were meant to promote a culture of evidence-based planning and decision making for good governance towards the attainment of the rebuilding mission of the current administration.

Also speaking, Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Mrs. Abiola Kufile-Okonji, commended members of the assembly on the bills, promising that her ministry would remain partner in progress with them and other stakeholders to ensure that the bills are implemented when passed into law areeliminate discrimination against people with disability and ensure that the bill meant to curb violence against person are implemented law.

Stakeholders who made presentations at the forum included the representatives of Justice Development and Peace Commission (JDPC), Adebesin Abiodun, Federation of Disability Platform, Mr. Gbenga Gbesan, the disabled in the media, Mrs. Oluwatomisin Adeyefa and the Ministry of Justice, Mr. Olaotan Segun and public analyst, Ola Animashaun.