Adamawa PWDs urges First Lady to expedite Passage of Disability Rights Commission Bill
More than 600,000 Adamawa residents living with disabilities have called on the state’s First Lady, Hajiya Lamido Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, to use her influence to fast‑track the passage and domestication of the long‑awaited Disability Rights Commission Bill now before the House of Assembly.
They argue that a dedicated commission would provide the legal backbone needed to combat discrimination, guarantee accessible services, and promote greater economic inclusion.
Related news
Lami Fintiri formally decorated as fellow of IBDFM
Fintiri’s SSA on peace and security, Minakaro urges youths to embrace peace, tolerance
The appeal was led by Mr. Jibrin Amzaranda, North‑East Zonal Coordinator of the Nigerian Association of the Blind, during a media briefing in Yola on Friday.
Amzaranda stressed that the enabling law would compel government ministries and private institutions to offer essential support—ranging from inclusive healthcare and rehabilitation to education, vocational training, and assistive technology. “Without a legally backed commission, our rights remain at the mercy of good will,” he said. “We need enforceable standards that protect every cluster of persons with disabilities in Adamawa.”
His plea comes against the backdrop of extensive, but largely philanthropic, interventions already spearheaded by Mrs Fintiri through her pet project, the Fresh Air Pro‑Life Employment Foundation (FAPEF). Since its creation, FAPEF has distributed empowerment tools across the state’s 21 local government areas: 20 motorcycles, 20 sewing machines, 20 grinding machines, and 20 refrigerators for each of the disability clusters—physically challenged persons, those with spinal cord injuries, leprosy survivors, individuals with albinism, the intellectually disabled, the blind, and the deaf. According to Amzaranda, these items have “changed everyday life” for many beneficiaries by opening avenues for self‑employment.
In April, the First Lady further expanded her outreach by distributing relief materials to 2,000 vulnerable persons at the Special Education Centre in Jada LGA—a gesture Amzaranda believes “brought hope and reinforced resilience” among families hit hardest by poverty and disability‑related costs. She has also provided small‑business grants to dozens of entrepreneurs with disabilities, helping them restock provisions kiosks, repair workshops, and petty‑trading stalls.
While acknowledging these gains, the blind association leader argued that philanthropy alone cannot close the gap. “We deeply appreciate Her Excellency’s compassion—she has done more in two years than some administrations achieved in a decade,” he noted. “Yet we still struggle with inaccessible public buildings, limited sign‑language interpreters in hospitals, and chronic unemployment. A commission with clear funding and prosecutorial powers would institutionalise solutions rather than leave them to chance.”
To that end, the disability community is requesting a five‑percent employment quota in the state civil service, saying it would reflect Adamawa’s commitment to inclusive growth. They are also asking the governor’s wife to help qualified PWDs secure vacancies whenever recruitment windows open. “Stable jobs translate to dignity and self‑reliance,” Amzaranda added.
He urged fellow PWDs to reciprocate the First Lady’s goodwill by remaining law‑abiding and actively participating in community development. “Let us show that when barriers fall, we are productive citizens who enrich Adamawa,” he said.
Observers believe Mrs Fintiri’s endorsement could accelerate legislative action on the bill, given her successful track record in mobilising support for social‑welfare initiatives. Until then, the state’s disability community remains hopeful that its call for a rights‑based, rather than charity‑based, approach will soon be realised.
