By Maikudi Muhammad Marafa
The leadership and members of the Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) Associations in Kano State have commended the Kano State Government under the leadership of His Excellency, Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, for its commitment to inclusive governance and the welfare of Persons with Disabilities across the state.
The associations also expressed profound appreciation to the Honourable Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, Comrade Ibrahim Abdullahi Waiya, for his consistent engagement with disability groups and his unwavering commitment to ensuring that the voices of Persons with Disabilities are reflected in government policies and programmes. According to the associations, the Commissioner’s inclusive leadership has strengthened confidence among disability communities and reaffirmed the administration’s dedication to social justice, equity, and equal participation.
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While acknowledging these positive strides, the associations respectfully called the attention of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf to lingering concerns regarding the relationship between disability groups and the Ministry of Women Affairs, Children and Persons with Disabilities.
According to the associations, the current approach adopted by the ministry falls short of the Governor’s vision of promoting the welfare, dignity, empowerment, and inclusion of Persons with Disabilities. They noted that this situation risks undermining the objectives for which the ministry was established.
The associations recalled that they had on several occasions submitted formal complaints and observations to relevant authorities concerning inadequate engagement and poor treatment of recognized disability organizations. They cited the recent distribution of the Governor’s Eid sacrificial cows as an example, alleging that the intervention was distributed to selected individuals based on personal affiliations rather than through the established leadership structures of disability organizations, a practice that generated widespread dissatisfaction within the disability community.
The associations identified several issues requiring urgent government attention, including the lack of recognition of disability organizations in decision-making processes, inadequate consultation with disability stakeholders on policies and programmes affecting Persons with Disabilities, the marginalization of legitimate representative bodies during government engagements and welfare distributions, and actions they believe do not fully reflect the Governor’s commitment to inclusive governance and social protection.
To address these concerns, the associations appealed to the Kano State Government to constitute a high-powered committee to facilitate the implementation and operational take-off of the Kano State Disability Commission. They noted that similar commissions are already functioning effectively in several states across Nigeria and have significantly improved the protection of disability rights, coordination of interventions, and implementation of disability-inclusive policies.
The associations expressed confidence that the establishment and full operationalization of the Disability Commission would strengthen inclusion, accountability, representation, and service delivery for Persons with Disabilities throughout Kano State.
They reaffirmed their commitment to constructive dialogue and sustained partnership with the Kano State Government in advancing the rights, welfare, and socio-economic development of Persons with Disabilities.
