Persons Living With Disabilities (PWDs) in Ogun State have called on the state government to immediately establish and activate the long-awaited Ogun State Disability Commission. The demand was made on Tuesday during a press conference held by leaders of various disability groups at the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Secretariat, Iwe-Iroyin, Abeokuta.
The press briefing, attended by representatives from multiple disability clusters, highlighted years of frustration over what they described as government inaction, neglect, and the absence of meaningful inclusion in state policies. Their spokesperson, Abdulwahab Matepo, the Interim National President of the Spinal Cord Injuries Association of Nigeria (SCIAN), said PWDs in Ogun State have been patient for too long and are tired of policies that exist only on paper.
Matepo said the government has failed to implement essential aspects of the Ogun State Disability Law passed in 2017, leaving many PWDs without the protections and support they are entitled to. He warned that with the current administration entering its final full year in office, PWDs expect concrete results—not promises.
“We have endured several years of exclusion and neglect,” Matepo said. “What we are asking for is our right, justice, respect and inclusion—not sympathy, tokenism or charity.”
The leaders reminded Governor Dapo Abiodun that despite hosting a comprehensive review workshop in January 2025—where experts, government officials, and disability advocates examined the weaknesses in the 2017 Disability Law—none of the recommended changes have been implemented.
The review highlighted several major gaps in the existing law, including:
The absence of a disability agency or commission.
Unrealistic provisions such as mandatory minimum wage payments to all PWDs, which stakeholders agreed must be revised.
Weak enforcement mechanisms for accessibility standards.
Lack of clear administrative structures for disability-related policies.
The workshop concluded with a commitment to amend and re-enact the law, but nearly a year later, no action has been taken.
Matepo said the lack of implementation shows that disability inclusion is still treated as a low priority. “We cannot enter another budget year with the same broken system,” he stated.
The groups presented four key demands, insisting that these are essential for the dignity and welfare of PWDs in the state:
1. Urgent Re-enactment and Gazetting of the Disability Law
They called on the government to adopt the amendments recommended during the 2025 workshop. These changes, they noted, would make the law realistic, implementable, and aligned with national and global standards, including:
The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD).
The African Disability Protocol.
Nigeria’s Disability Act at the federal level.
Matepo stressed that without these updates, the state’s disability law remains outdated and ineffective.
2. Immediate Establishment and Activation of the Ogun State Disability Commission
This was described as the most critical demand. They argued that without a functioning commission, policies and rights cannot be implemented.
“Without a functional commission, every other promise is empty,” Matepo declared.
He explained that the commission must be legally constituted, provided with adequate funding, staffed with trained professionals, and empowered to implement disability programmes across all sectors.
3. Inclusion of a Dedicated Budget Line in the 2026 Appropriation Bill
The groups said disability inclusion requires real financial commitment, not mere statements.
“Without funding, disability inclusion will remain rhetoric,” Matepo said.
A dedicated budget line, they argued, would ensure transparency, accountability, and proper planning. It would cover areas such as education support, employment programmes, healthcare access, mobility aids, public awareness campaigns, and assistive technology initiatives.
4. Enforcement of Accessibility Standards Across All Public Infrastructure
The speakers demanded strict enforcement of accessibility requirements in:
Ministries and government agencies
Local government areas
Newly constructed buildings
Renovated public facilities
They highlighted that accessibility is a basic human right and not an optional feature. Ramps, lifts, tactile surfaces, accessible toilets, sign language interpretation, and disability-friendly transportation should be standard across Ogun State.
“Accessibility is dignity,” the groups said. “We cannot continue to live in a state where public buildings shut out persons with disabilities.”
Ogun State passed its disability law in 2017 under the previous administration. However, unlike many other states—including Lagos, Ekiti, Plateau, and Oyo—the law has never been fully implemented. These other states have already established their disability commissions, created budget frameworks, and enforced accessibility laws.
Ogun PWD groups say they feel left behind despite the state being regarded as one of the more progressive in the South-West. Many described the situation as “painful and embarrassing,” especially because Ogun hosts several major institutions, including universities, industries, and federal establishments that should model inclusion.
The groups urged Governor Abiodun to make history by becoming the first Ogun State governor to fully implement disability rights and create a disability commission.
“We strongly believe that Governor Dapo Abiodun can write his name in gold,” Matepo said. “He has the chance to become the first governor to turn disability rights from paper to reality.”
They said the disability community has shown patience and cooperation, even participating in government workshops and offering expert advice. But now, they insist that action must replace dialogue.
With the 2026 budget cycle approaching, disability groups say this is the most important moment for the governor to act. They also expressed hope that members of the Ogun State House of Assembly will support the passage of the updated law and the budget provisions that follow.
“We are not asking for special treatment,” the groups said. “We are asking for equal opportunity and a chance to live with dignity.”
