NCPWD partners NIPOST on distribution of PWDs membership certificates

By Ahmed Ubandoma

The National Commission for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD), has expressed its readiness to partner with the Nigeria Postal Service (NIPOST), for effective distribution of membership certificates to Persons with Disability (PWDs).

Dr James Lalu, the Executive Secretary of the commission, said this on Wednesday when he paid a courtesy visit to the Postmaster General, Tola Odeyemi, in her office in Abuja.

Lalu, who was at the NIPOST to solicit for partnership, said the commission would liaise with the Postmaster General, to ensure the distribution of the certificates to PWDs across the 774 Local Government Areas (LGAs) in Nigeria.

“I believe you will play a key role in ensuring that persons with disabilities get their certificates using the NIPOST digital platform because your offices are located in all the 774 LGAs and beyond.

“We want to leverage on this wider network coverage to distribute these certificates because PWDs resides in rural communities across the country.

“So partnering with Institutions like this will assist us in distributing those certificates” he said.

The Executive Secretary also used the opportunity to inform the Postmaster General on the existence of disability laws.

According to him, the enforcement of discrimination against Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) Prohibition Act 2018 will commence soon.

He, therefore, urged the Postmaster General to ensure that NIPOST complied with the relevant disability laws.

“Part of the provisions of the law was that in every employment opportunities undertaken by a public establishment, five per cent must be reserved for PWDs.

”Though,  many people will still claim ignorance of the discrimination against Persons with Disabilities law but, when it is taken to them, there will not be excuse anymore” he said.

Lalu told the Postmaster General that the five years moratorium earlier announced by the federal government on the enforcement of discrimination against PWDs laws had elapsed in January 2024.

According to him, this gives room for full compliance and prosecution of anyone who infringes on the law.

He, however, said the penalties would be reviewed by the National Assembly in due time in order to serve as punitive measures.

“The entire part of the law is explicit about the provisions of access to public infrastructure and buildings in the specific mode and measurements” lalu said.

On her part, the Postmaster General said, NIPOST would play a critical role in ensuring that it provided a platform for promoting inclusivity for PWDs.

Odeyemi assured the commission of her determination to assist them in fulfilling their mandate.

She expressed readiness to support efforts towards advocating for the enforcement of the rights of PWDs.
(NAN)(www.nannews.ng).

Edited by Abiemwense Moru