Implement Ogun disability law, PWDs beg Abiodun

Members of JONAPWD and SCIAN during the press briefing held in Abeokuta. Photo: Taiwo Bankole

The Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities and the Spinal Cord Injuries Association of Nigeria have called on the Ogun State Government to fully implement the state’s Disability Law, nearly nine years after it was signed into law.

The groups made the demand at a joint press briefing held on Wednesday at the NUJ Hall, Iwe Iroyin House, Oke-Ilewo, Abeokuta, urging Governor Dapo Abiodun to provide the political direction required to conclude the implementation process before the expiration of his tenure in eight months.

The Ogun State Disability Law was signed by the former governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, on December 27, 2017.

The groups, however, said the law had yet to be fully operationalised, leaving persons with disabilities waiting for the legal framework to translate into functioning institutions, enforceable protections and accessible public systems.

The National President of SCIAN, Abdulwahab Matepo, and the Chairman of JONAPWD, Ogun State chapter, Ayo Awobona, made the call during the joint briefing.

They said, “A law passed to protect the rights of persons with disabilities must not remain a law on paper. It must become a law in action.”

According to the groups, the disability community had engaged the state government and other stakeholders through meetings, consultations, letters, courtesy visits and media advocacy since 2025 in an effort to resolve issues surrounding the implementation of the law, without any success recorded.

They stressed that their campaign was not intended to confront the state government but to ensure that commitments were translated into concrete action.

The groups said discussions about possible amendments to the law should not be allowed to indefinitely delay its implementation.

They advocated the operationalisation of the existing law in accordance with applicable legal procedures while any necessary amendments were pursued through the appropriate legislative process.

They said this would enable the government and the disability community to address implementation and possible improvements to the legal framework simultaneously.

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The organisations said non-implementation had practical consequences for persons with disabilities, particularly in education, healthcare, transportation, employment, economic participation and political engagement.

They also called for accessible public institutions and mechanisms through which the rights of persons with disabilities could be protected and government obligations monitored.

The groups said the World Health Organisation estimated that about 16 per cent of the global population experienced significant disability.

They added that a 2025 JONAPWD “Assumptive Data of Persons with Disabilities in Nigeria” estimated that 1,032,221 persons were living with disabilities in Ogun State, based on a 15 per cent benchmark applied to the National Population Commission’s 2025 population projection.

Matepo said, “JONAPWD and SCIAN recognise government as an essential partner in achieving disability inclusion. We are therefore not presenting ourselves as opponents of government.

“We are presenting ourselves as partners seeking accountability and implementation. We remain ready to provide technical input, participate in consultations, review proposed amendments, mobilise the disability community and work constructively with government.

“But partnership must produce results. The disability community has demonstrated patience. We have written letters. We have attended meetings. We have made courtesy visits.

“We have engaged legal experts. We have engaged government officials. We have undertaken public awareness activities. We have participated in consultations. And we have continued to pursue dialogue. The next step should now be action.”

He added, “We respectfully call on His Excellency, Prince Dapo Abiodun, CON, to provide the necessary political direction to ensure that the process of implementing the Ogun State Disability Law is concluded before the expiration of his term in office.

“JONAPWD has already formally appealed to the Governor to intervene and direct the relevant authorities to conclude the necessary processes and commence implementation. We therefore ask that this matter receive the necessary attention at the highest level of the state government.”