Gov. Bello is physically challenged persons' friendly- Civil society »

Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) have described Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello as the most friendly governor to people living with disability.

This was contained in a communique issued at the end of a one-day advocacy meeting with 23 Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), government functionaries, religious leaders, representatives of people living with leprosy/disabilities and others on Thursday in Lokoja.

The communique read that the favourable disposition of Governor Bello towards the people living with disabilities which culminate in his appointment of an SSA on disability in his cabinet was an indication that he has regard for the group.

The coalition which was led by the Kogi office of the Leprosy Mission Nigeria (TLMN) in partnership with the state’s Ministry of Women Affairs appealed to the governor to assent to the bill on Persons Living With Disabilities (PLWD) before the expiration of tenure of the 6th assembly in the state.

“The Bill for a law to establish the Disability office, guarantee and protect the Rights of Persons Living with Disability and for other matters connected Therewith, 2018, was passed by the state House of Assembly on Dec. 12, 2018.

“If the bill is not assented to, all efforts and progress made on since 2016 will be futile, as the 6th assembly will hold its last sitting on Monday June 3, 2019 which is only two working days away from now, leaves only a 72hours window for the bill to be assented to,” the communiqué read further.