The Centre for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD) says the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has critical role to play in ensuring the rights of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) were protected.
Mr David Anyaele, CCD Founder and Special Adviser (SA) to Abia Government on Disability Matters, spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on the sidelines of a sensitisation programme for Disability Desk Officers of the NSCDC, in Lagos.
NAN reports that the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) was established by Act 3 of 2003 with numerous security responsibilities. This Act was amended in year 2007, to further strengthen and empower the Corps for better service delivery.
He noted that when people have or come down with disabilities, often times, the society attributes it to something, hence the discrimination and stigmatisation.
He said there was need for officers of NSCDC to strengthen their understanding of priority issues regarding PWDs as they have integral role to play in promoting the rights of PWDs in the society.
“The NSCDC plays a crucial role in promoting disability rights and ensuring that PWDs are protected, inclusive and have access to justice.
“One of the roles of NSCDC is to protect, hence the need to understand PWDs as well as the provisions of the law for them.
“Without understanding the roles, their dynamics, you may not be able to understand PWDs.
“This is important because you are expected to assist in times of emergencies.’’
Anyaele urged the NSCDC to add Disability Issues as part of their roles, while emphasising the need to recruit sign language interpreters as officers too, as they will be readily available when the need arises.
“When you recruit some sign language interpreters as officers, they will be on standby , while also doing the core job functions.
“There will be ethical standards. By so doing, rather than having to hire interpreters every now and then when the need arises, one is already an employee of the corps and can interpret without the corps incurring additional expenses from hiring an external interpreter.’’
Earlier, while speaking on the “Role of NSCDC in promoting Disability Rights and Access to Justice for PWDs’’, Anyaele highlighted the importance of having a guideline in the NSCDC on how to handle disability issues and setting PWDs as priority.
Amadu Okomayin, Head of Unit, PWD, NSCDC Lagos Command, said one of the core mandates of the NSCDC was to protect the fundamental human rights of citizens, the PWDs inclusive.
Recognising this need as it pertains to PWDs, he said the NSCDC in all its commands, were mandated to have PWD Desk Officers being manned by a senior officer.
Okomayin assured that the corps would continue to work toward protecting the rights of PWDs whenever it arises.
Ms Christiana Njoku, Programme Officer, CCD, said there was need for continued advocacy to promote disability rights .
She noted that daily, the numbers of persons with disabilities increased owing to conflicts, accidents, ailments, poor health systems among others.
In her presentation on “Understanding Disability Rights and Model’’, Njoku made a case for mainstreaming disability whereby activities and processes should be inclusive of PWDs.
“We don’t know who might be the next.
“So, we all need to be concerned because eventualities such as this, most times, do not give notice and when they come, they are with lifetime consequences.
“ Advocacy, hence, is important because anyone can be a victim at any time.’’
“Awareness creation cannot be overemphasised because there is need for enlightenment on issues surrounding PWDs, with emphasis on the Human Rights Model,’’ she said. (NAN)
By Kemi Akintokun
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