Disability rights advocate group, the JOMIDA Foundation for Persons with Disabilities, has appealed to Gov Peter Mbah of Enugu State to fulfil his promise of establishing the Enugu State Commission for Persons with Disabilities.
The Executive Director of JOMIDA Foundation, Comrade Chris Agbo, said the call became necessary due to a lingering delay in setting up the commission despite a public commitment made by the governor during a town-hall meeting in Enugu in 2024.
Agbo disclosed this in a release he made available to THE WHISTLER in Enugu.
He recalled that Gov Mbah had during the town-hall meeting pledged to establish the commission before the end of the second quarter of 2025, noting that “it has become a promise that remains unfulfilled as of May 2025”.
Comrade Agbo described the delay as a “denial of opportunity, access, and justice” to over 15% of Enugu’s population who live with disabilities.
In his words, “While we commend Gov Mbah for the strides his administration has made in various sectors, true progress must be inclusive.
The absence of a disability commission leaves a critical vacuum in the implementation of the Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Law signed under the previous administration.”
The law, it was gathered, targets the protection of people living with disabilities from discrimination, and promotes their rights to education, healthcare, employment, and political participation through the establishment of a commission to oversee its implementation.
Agbo said neighbouring South-East states of Anambra and Abia had already established their disability commissions, adding that “Enugu State—historically a leader in social development—risks falling behind in promoting inclusive governance”.
He said, “The fight against poverty cannot be won without deliberately addressing the peculiar challenges faced by persons with disabilities. The commission will provide the structure, policy direction, and a platform for inclusive growth.”
Agbo further charged Gov Mbah to include at least one person with a disability in his cabinet to ensure representation and advocacy for the needs of the disability community at the highest levels of government, adding that, “You cannot make decisions for us without us. We need our voices at the policy table.”
The foundation expressed its readiness to support the government in the process of establishing the commission and reiterated that Enugu State possesses competent, qualified, and visionary sons and daughters with disabilities to lead the commission effectively.
