Bills Protecting Disabled Persons, Prohibiting Violence Scale Second Reading In Ogun
Two bills which include a bill seeking to eliminate all forms of discrimination against persons living with disability and another one prohibiting all forms of violence against persons scaled through second reading on floor of the Ogun State House of Assembly.
Another bill which will provide for the establishment of the State Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Commission was also read for the first time by the Clerk of the Assembly, Engr. ‘Lanre Bisiriyu at the plenary presided over by Speaker, Suraju Ishola Adekunbi.
The two bills titled: “H. B No 012/OG/2017- People with Disability Law of Ogun State Bill, 2017 as well as H.B No. 013/OG/2017- Violence Against Persons (Prohibition Law), 2017.
The member representing Odogbolu State Constituency, Hon. Adebowale Ojuri, who is also the sponsor had earlier moved the motion for the second reading of the bill on “People with Disability Law of Ogun State Bill, 2017”, and seconded by the Minority Leader, Olawale Alausa and supported by the Whole House.
Opening debate on the bill, Ojuri stated that the essence of the bill was to protect and promote the rights of the disabled people as enshrined the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended, saying the people with special needs deserved all rights and opportunities, including education, training, transport as well as access to public building.
The bill was initiated after much consultations and feedback from various disability rights’ groups with a view to ensuring equal and fair treatment in public places, while encouraging private sectors to promote equality of opportunities for them, pointing out that it is illegal to discriminate against them.
Contributing, Honourables Olawale Alausa, Idowu Olowofuja and Akinpelu Aina described the bill as long overdue, stating that more life opportunities, courtesy and democratic dividends should be accorded to them in the society, as they possessed special attributes that could make them contribute to the development of the society and nation at large.
They explained that the seventh Legislative session in the State had in the past passed a resolution condemning any discrimination against people with disability in the State, adding that the bill when passed by the assembly and signed into law by the Governor would abolish all forms of discrimination against persons with disabilities while balancing their opportunities in all aspects of life in the society.
Other members who spoke in support of the bill including the Deputy Speaker, Olakunle Oluomo and Honourables Ganiyu Oyedeji as well as Akanbi Bankole lauded the Senator Ibikunle Amosun led- administration for easing the movement of disabled people in the construction of infrastructure such as model colleges and shopping complexes among others.
Leading the debate on “H.B No. 013/OG/2017- Violence Against Persons (Prohibition Law), 2017, the Deputy Speaker Olakunle Oluomo condemned all forms of physical, domestic, psychological and sexual violence against persons with a call for measures towards ensuring maximum protection and remedies as well as punishment for violent conducts by any person in the society.
Other members who spoke in favour of the bill are Honourables Yetunde Sogbein, Oludare Kadiri, Olusola Sonuga, Adeyemi Harrison and the Majority Leader, Adeyinka Mafe noted that the implementation of the bill after its passage, would help promote peaceful environment by resolving domestic conflicts through modern dispute resolution measures in line with United Nations (UN) Social Order Policy.
They stated that the bill which was in line with the 1999 Constitution as amended, would save women against violence, curb battery or stalking and other forms of assaults whether “man to woman, woman to man, master to servant or woman to woman or man to man”.
Other honourable members who contributed to bill are Olayiwola Ojodu, Akinpelu Aina, Tunde Sanusi, Victor Fasanya, Adebiyi Adeleye and the Chief Whip, Idowu Olowofuja sought for the inclusion of non-physical forms of violence which included verbal, sexual and emotional violence for an effective legislation.
Responding, Speaker Adekunbi commended his colleague-lawmakers for their impressive contributions to the bills, and thereafter committed the two bills to the Assembly’s Committee on Women Affairs and Social Development for further legislative action.
