Obaseki to establish Edo disability commission

Benin, Edo – The Edo state commissioner for social development and gender issues, Christabel Omoh Ekwu has reiterated the state government’s commitment to the plight of persons living with disabilities (PWDs) in the state.

Ekwu, who spoke during a meeting with the Edo Disability Forum (EDF), who were on an advocacy visit to her office, on Friday, assured that, the Godwin Òbaseki-led government will set up a disability commission by November this year to well cater for their needs.

“What I can promise is that we would seek an audience with his Excellency (Governor Godwin Obaseki) to discuss all these with him and see that the disability commission that he has promised comes to bare before this administration winds up”, the commissioner assured the group, comprising of leaders of the various disability clusters in the state.

Earlier, the convener, Melody Omosah Esq, lamented the continued neglect of the majority of PWDs in the state, out of government’s policies and programs.

Omosah, who expressed appreciation to governor Obaseki for passing into law, the Edo disability Bill in July 2022, stressed that PWDs in the state were worse hit by current economic hardship occasioned by federal government’s removal of petroleum subsidy.

Omosah appealed for “palliatives”, or monthly financial support from the government for unemployed PWDs especially graduates, noting that, only a disability commission can drive the law’s implementation that can guarantee the needs of Edo PWDs, including in emergency situations as the subsidy removal.






“When the commission is constituted, there is a committee for the implementation of that (Edo Disability) law which the honorable commissioner (for social development and gender issues) chairs; that speaks to your commitment to those issues. This administration by November 2024 would be winding down and we want to see that there is a commission in place before this administration leaves, so that there would be continuity in government effort to bringing in persons with disabilities.

“That commission is key, because we are looking at a sustainable approach to responding to issues of persons with disabilities when it comes to emergencies”, the EDF convener stated

The meeting with the commissioner is among series of advocacy visits to Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) in recent weeks, to present their reports as well as recommendations, on the impact of subsidy removal on PWDs in the state.

The group earlier visited the Edo State Transport Authority (ESTA), Ministry of trade investment and co-orporatives, ministry of budget and economic planning, and the ministry of health, for similar presentations.

However, when it eventually come on board by the end of this administration, the clamour by critical stakeholders, for a legal framework to protect the interests of PWDs would be put to rest.