From Scholastica Hir Makurdi
Journalists in Benue State have been called upon to use their reports to campaign and advance for the enactment of a law to domesticate the Disabilities Act in the state.
The call was made in Makurdi on Wednesday at a one day Media Advocacy Workshop on the “Driving the Domestication of the Disability Act in Benue State” organized by Inclusive Friends Association, (IFA) with support funding from National Endowment for Democracy, (NED).
The workshop was designed to bring together media professionals from across the State to explore the vital role the media can play in advocating for the domestication of the Disability Act by shaping the strategies and messages that will drive the cause forward.
It was also organized to co-opt the media to joined IFA team o ensure that the voices of persons with disabilities are heard and that their rights are upheld through effective policy implementation.
In her presentation titled “Understanding Disabilities” IFA’s Executive Director, Grace Jerry, harped on the importance of disability-inclusive reporting.
She called on the media to impress on the state government as well as the legislators to expedite action on PWDs draft bill and ensure that it is passed soon.
She noted that Benue State remains the only State in the North Central that has not signed the PWDs act into law since it was accented to by former President Muhammadu Buhari in 2019.
Jerry emphasized on the Human Rights-based models for persons with disabilities and the use of the right terminologies when crafting stories on persons with disabilities in media coverage.
According to her, “inclusive language matters, it shapes perceptions and promotes dignity. We must move away from derogatory and stigmatizing terms and embrace respectful, person-first language that truly reflects the rights and humanity of persons with disabilities.
“It is your responsibility as agenda setters to promote and project the rights of PWDs so that government will give them the needed attention and their rights will be upheld”.
Also in his papers entitled, “Crafting Effective Media Messages for Disability Advocacy” and “Leveraging Digital and Social Media for Advocacy”, a Media Consultant, Mr Jide Ojo urged media executives to apply practical tools in creating compelling and impactful messages that resonate with their audiences.
Ojo, who is also a board member of IFA, advised the media practitioners to harness deeper the power of their digital platforms to advance disability rights in Benue State.
Personal Assistant to Governor Hyacinth Alia on Persons With Disabilities, (PWDs) Hon. Bem Anshe lauded IFA for being in the vanguard in ensuring the quick passage of the Disabilities Act into law, saying the government is providing a level playing ground for partners to come in and cater for PWDs.
Anshe who doubles as the State chairman of Joint National Association of Persons With Disability (JONAPWD) said the bill was passed in 2018 and was assented to by the then President Muhammadu Buhari in 2019 and Benue State remains the only state in the North Central yet to domesticate the act.
He however expressed joy that the delay was for good because states that domesticated the act earlier are now struggling to amend or add addendum to it while Benue is learning from their mistakes.
He therefore called on the Benue State government to take advantage and come out with a perfect disability law expressing hope that it would soon be domesticated in the state as the draft bill was already before the executive hence efforts have to be sustained by all and sundry until the bill is assented to by the Governor.
“We have a review of this law which was drafted during the past administration and on April 16 2024, we handed over the draft bill to the Honourable Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice and Public Order in Benue State.
“We are now counting our fingers to know when that bill will be sent to Assembly for legislative purpose. So, it is not over yet until we have that draft bill in the Assembly. Even in the Assembly, it is not over yet until the legislative process is completed and that, is not over yet until it is passed and even when it is passed, it is not over yet until it is assented to by the Governor, Rev. Fr Hyacinth Alia.
“That is only when it can become a law in Benue state that we can beat our chest to say that we have a legal backing in Benue State.”
He appreciated the Organization and funders and solicited for more funding when the bill is passed to facilitate its implementation.