from Yona Maro

His Excellency President Goodluck Jonathan
President of Federal Republic of Nigeria
Office of the Presidency
Asu-Rock, Abuja, Nigeria
CARE OF:
Secretariat for the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
Department for Economic and Social Affairs (DESA)
United Nations
Two United Nations Plaza, DC2-1372
New York, NY 10017
United States of America Secretary Hilary Rodham Clinton
U.S. Department of State
2201 C. Street, NW
Washington, DC 20520
Senator David Mark
President of the Nigerian Senate
Hon. Oladimeji. Bankole (CFR)
Speaker, Nigerian House of Representative

Hon. Mrs. Iyom Josephine Anenih
Nigerian Minister of Women Affairs
Chineme Ume-Ezeoke
SSA on Nigeria’s Civil Society
Hon. Abike Dabiri
Nigerian National Assembly
Office of the Diaspora

His Excellency,

RE: OPEN LETTER TO THE PRESIDENT

On behalf of the more than 22 million Nigerians with disabilities, DPOs, friends and allies both from the civil society government, The Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities of Nigeria in the Diaspora, Equal Rights for Persons with Disabilities International, Inc (ERPDI), Walk the Talk America, Inc, New Nigerian Initiative of Nigeria in the Diaspora, and FESTAC-USA, we thank and congratulate you and your administration for ratifying the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), on September 24, 2010. As the CRPD is the first comprehensive human rights treaty of the 21st century, ratification demonstrates Nigeria’s commitment to full and equal human rights for all of its citizens, as well as its willingness to uphold the international principles embodied in the treaty.

As Nigeria seeks to honor its obligations under the treaty, including its duty to report to the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, implementation through national reform is essential. Article 4 of The UN Convention identifies general and specific obligations on States parties in relation to the rights of persons with disabilities. One of the fundamental obligations contained in the Convention is that national law should guarantee the enjoyment of the rights enumerated in the Convention. In order to assist in meeting this obligation, we humbly and respectfully seek to support and encourage the signing of the Disability Bill before you.
This Bill marks a turning point in the lives of millions of Nigerians, and offers a chance to enhance Nigeria’s economy through the inclusion of people with disabilities, while also upholding Nigeria’s obligation under international law. One tangible benefit of the Bill will be greater economic contributions of 22 million Nigerian’s with a disability,, who are also now , a very formidable political constituency of consequences. Many multinational companies have discovered the potential of people with disabilities to make significant contributions to the workplace, and therefore the economic growth of a nation. For example, the DuPont Corporation (a US based chemical company) undertook a 30 year measure of the performance of its employees and found that disabled employees performed on par or better than nondisabled staff with regard to attendance, safety and overall job performance. Supporting this idea further, the International Labor Organization conducted a study, including countries such as Ethiopia, Malawi, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe, and found that economic losses related to the exclusion of persons with disabilities from the labor force are large and measurable, ranging from between 3 and 7 per cent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

The Bill before you will ensure that Nigeria benefits from the untapped potential of people with disabilities, through the inclusion in skills training and employment opportunities, allowing for greater contributions to society and the economy.

Another key component of the Bill is a right to education. Education is the key for any country to compete globally and see economic gains. It is a means out of poverty, helps prevent disease, generates a skilled employment pool and has been cited by the UN as a major factor in ensuring national peace and stability. Without access to education millions of Nigerian’s with a disability will not only be kept out of the job market, but will remain trapped in a cycle of poverty, dependency and poor health, all factors that lead to national economic and social instability.

Other objectives of the bill, such as the mandate that new buildings be constructed with accessibility requirements, will not only ensure compliance with the UN treaty but will save the Government money over time. It is more cost efficient to construct an accessible building then to build one that is not accessible, and have to modify the structure again in the future. Accessibility in both buildings and transpiration ensures that the 22 million Nigerians who have some form of disability can get to work; access health services, thereby reducing the spread of disease, access banks; courthouses; schools and other essential facilities which will enable them to become self sufficient and productive. A person who is self sufficient and productive can not only better contribute to society, but will ultimately cost the Government less because they will be able to take care of themselves and their families.

In addition, it is critical to keep in mind that it is not just Nigerian’s with a disability that will benefit from this Bill but society as a whole. Since almost every Nigerian will develop a disability as they age, the Disability Bill will be of use to every Nigerian at some point in their life. Therefore, by signing into law the Disability Bill you will not only provide equal right and treatment for 22 million Nigerian’s with a disability, you will also do so for the entire Nigerian society.

Mainstreaming disability is not a radical idea for Nigeria, but falls in line with the previously undertaken movement to mainstream gender. The Commission of Women’s Affairs is a vital part of the Nigerian Government, and has increased not only the rights of women but their participation in and contribution to society. A Commission on Disability would produce the same results and could be created by undertaking the same process that was done for Women’s Affairs. In addition a Commission on Disability would work with all ministries, Department and Agencies in the country and in the Diaspora, as issues of disability is a crosscutting one, affecting all areas of development. The idea of this kind of multisectorial approach is further explored below.

The Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities of Nigeria in the Diaspora, USA Chapter, Equal Rights for Persons with Disabilities International, Inc (ERPDI), Walk the Talk America, Inc., New Nigeria Initiative in the Diaspora (NNID), FESTAC-USA and many other unnamed organizations, Diaspora collaborators, are all willing and able to work with the Federal Government and the Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities of Nigeria, to assist in implementing the Disability Bill and in establishing the Commission. We are prepared to assist by providing expertise, guidance, and examples of how other countries have implemented the Convention. For instance Uganda adopted a Community Based Rehabilitation (CBR) as a service strategy for reaching more persons with disabilities in 1990. Currently the country runs a CBR model with activities that include identification of persons with disabilities; assessment, referral, rehabilitation and home programs. Families of persons with disabilities are also encouraged to participate in income generating activities. This project involves multisectorial committees at National, District and Sub-country levels. All these committees are geared to mainstreaming disability in general community development and work with the Commissions on Disability. This multisectorial committee approach works for two reasons:

It ensures full inclusion and implementation within society.
The benefits and financial burdens are spread throughout different programs thereby easing budget strains.

We are also interested in helping deflect the cost of establishing a Commission and enacting a Bill. As an NGO with ties to international organizations, the UN and other institutions, we can seek and apply for funds that have already been designated for use in such efforts. As we are part of Rehabilitation International (RI), a global network of more than 1000 organizations of person with disabilities, service providers, agencies, professionals and experts in a broad range of disability-related issues with consultative status to the United Nations, we can attest to the fact that other RI members such as those in Tanzania and India have already received similar support. We have identified United Nations Voluntary Funds on Disabilities, Open Society Institute, Ratify Now and many other unnamed agencies, as potential donor matches and hope that this will further alleviate any cost related hesitancy to signing the Bill.

Signing this Bill will help Nigeria to serve as a leader among human rights, and will change the bleak reality in which Nigerian’s with disability currently live. Without this Bill millions of disabled people will continue to live below the poverty line. They will go without access to education, employment opportunities and critical health care. They will continue to be trapped in a cycle where wide spread discriminations and segregation cause them to remain highly vulnerable to poverty and disease. Without this Bill social stigmas associated with disability will remain so prevalent that even families will continue to reject their own members with disabilities. This Bill will help to change the role of people with disabilities in Nigerian society, moving them from objects of pity or charity, where society is more comfortable giving disabled persons money on the streets then giving them paying jobs and shelter, to one in which persons with disabilities can enjoy equal rights as all other Nigeria’s and contribute to society on a level yet unrealized under current law.

Therefore it is not only on behalf of 22 million Nigeria’s with disabilities that we humbly and respectfully ask you sign the Disability Bill into law. Your Excellency, we want to sincerely state here that appointing any of us into the office of the Special Senior Assistant to the President on Disability Matter, Nigeria would not in any way, honor its obligations under the UN treaty, including its duty to report to the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, essential and mandatory implementation through national reforms, which Article 4 of The Convention identifies general and specific obligations on States parties in relation to the rights of persons with disabilities; .Please Your Excellency, note that one of the fundamental obligations contained in the UN Convention is that national law should guarantee the enjoyment of the rights enumerated in the Convention; would not in anyway meet the needs and aspirations of people with disabilities and their households, it would not in anyway promote and protect their rights, and would not in anyway restore their dignity.

Your Excellency Sir, please, all we are asking for, is the signing of the Bill into law, for in it lays our hopes and aspirations, and it is only when this happens that we can have a breath of FRESH AIR. This Bill is a chance for the nation to demonstrate that indeed, she truly cares for her vulnerable and less privileged members. A chance for Nigeria to fulfill its obligations under the UN Convention while getting back the maximum potential and benefit of all its citizens and for these reasons we reverentially, humbly and respectfully ask the Bill be signed into law.

Please note that valid and verifiable, statistical data has proved that Nigerians in the Diaspora, sends more than ten Billion dollars in cash annually, to their loved ones living in Nigeria. Also, we render billions of dollars on, undocumented healthcares, in form of medical mission, charity work, and other services. Therefore Mr. President, we Nigerians in the Diaspora, as second highest sources of Nigeria’s foreign revenue, to crude oil and gas, deserves to have the right, for our voices to be heard and valid requests to be honored.

Thanks so much for hearing our voices and granting our request.

Respectfully Submitted,

________________________
Chief Eric N. Ufom, President
Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities
Of Nigeria in the Diaspora, USA Chapter
P.O. Box 710251