Stakeholders in Bayelsa State are advocating for the passage of two critical bills, the Persons With Disabilities (PWD) Bill and the Water Sector Bill, emphasizing their importance in promoting inclusive governance and improving the lives of citizens.
The stakeholders, including PWD representatives, civil society organizations, community leaders, chiefs, and representatives of ministries and MDAs, voiced these demands during a Project Thrust town hall meeting organized by Connected Development (CODE) in Yenagoa.
They noted that the PWD Bill, which seeks to uphold the rights of persons with disabilities, will address challenges related to health, education, employment, and welfare for PWDs.
Hon. Akpomokumor Mayor, Chairman of the People With Disabilities Association of Nigeria, highlighted the need for public awareness and sensitization on PWD rights to ensure effective implementation. He also called for the provision of facilities for PWDs in public places.
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Participants stressed the importance of providing potable water to Bayelsans and urged the Bayelsa State House of Assembly to pass the Water Sector Bill into law. According to them, this would attract international funding and partnerships. They also recommended appointing a substantive Commissioner of Water Resources and paying the required matching grants to access international cooperation in the water sector.
Tari Maureen Amananagha, Bayelsa State Support Officer of Project Thrust, explained that the town hall meeting aimed to foster trust between citizens and the government, ensuring good governance and active citizen participation. Amananagha highlighted Project Thrust’s focus on inclusivity for persons with disabilities in the development of public infrastructure.
She stated that passing these bills into law would mark significant progress for Bayelsa State in promoting inclusivity, improving healthcare, education, and ensuring access to clean water for its citizens.
She said: “Project Thrust is about deepening and institutionalizing accountability between the people and the government. Today, we held a town hall meeting where we invited key stakeholders in the areas where we are tracking our projects, such as health, education, water, sanitation, and hygiene.
“We also invited other agencies related to our areas of operation, such as the Ministry of community development, budget and economic planning and the ministry of women affairs which is responsible for persons with disabilities.
“So we will be taking our advocacy to the Bayelsa State House of Assembly and other key stakeholder ministries so that we can actualize the passage into law PWDs bill and also there is something we are looking at the water sector policy and the passage into law the water sector bill.
