-By sdnonline-

People Living With Disabilities (PLWDs) in Lagos State have called on Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to institutionalise and strengthen the state disability agency, LASODA.

While felicitating with the Babajide Sanwo-Olu led administration’s one year in office, the PLWDs also urged the government to restore the Disability Empowerment Fund.

In a signed statement by Dr. Adebukola Adebayo, Chairman, Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD), Lagos chapter, the governor’s T.H.E.M.E.S Agenda offered Lagosians with disabilities some hope of enhancement of their inclusion in all sectors in the emerging smart mega city. “However the administration has failed after one year to strengthen the Disability Agency (LASODA) with which it would have achieved this important goal.”

“Lagosians with disabilities felicitate with our dear Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwoolu and his very able Deputy, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat as they celebrate one successful year in the governance and leadership of Lagos state.

While we acknowledge and appreciate their commitment to promoting disability-inclusion and empowerment, we are concerned that after one year, there haven’t been any evidence to show a strategic, institutional, policy/program-driven approaches to implementing their passionate love for persons with disabilities.

LASODA up till now has no Board and General Manager to pilot its affairs.

As we set-out on the second year of Governor Sanwoolu’s Administration, Lagosians with disabilities would be much happier to see: The urgent set-up and institutional strengthening of LASODA; Restoration of the Disability Empowerment Fund; An Executive Order mandating all ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) to set-up a Disability-Inclusion Desk to be supervised by a Director in charge of Planning,” he said

Other requests by the association include an Executive Order mandating all Local Government Areas, LGAs and Local Council Development Areas, LCDAs to set-up Disability Support and Resource Office; and Implementation of the Lagos state policy on inclusive education.”

The association hopes that these requests would have been granted by the end of Governor Sanwoolu’s second year in office.