The Spinal Cord Injury Association of Nigeria (SCIAN) has raised concerns about the new Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Bill currently being discussed at the Ogun State House of Assembly.
The association said the bill mainly focuses on gender issues and only briefly mentions the concerns of people with disabilities. They argued that to properly protect the rights of the estimated 600,000 people with disabilities in Ogun State — as required by United Nations standards — the Assembly should instead work on the amendment to the 2017 Ogun State Disability Law. This amendment was submitted to the Assembly in October.
SCIAN said the Assembly may continue working on the DEI Bill if it wants, since it focuses mostly on gender, but it should not replace the already submitted disability law amendment. SCIAN President, Abdulwahab Matepo, said this in a memo submitted at the public hearing on the DEI Bill held at the Assembly Complex in Abeokuta on Wednesday.
Matepo explained that after the disability law was signed in 2017 by former Governor Ibikunle Amosun, disability groups organised a two-day workshop to create practical suggestions for improving the law. The updated draft was first submitted in March 2025 and then re-submitted on October 14, 2025 after another meeting with the Speaker.
He said he was surprised that instead of improving the existing law, the Assembly introduced a DEI Bill that only includes disability as one of many broad social groups. He insisted that the DEI Bill and its proposed commission cannot replace or weaken the Ogun State Disability Law. He added that the DEI Bill does not properly address the specific needs of people with disabilities, who make up about 15% of the state’s population.
SCIAN therefore called for the immediate review and passage of the amendments to the 2017 disability law, the creation of the Ogun State Commission for Persons with Disabilities with full legal powers, and the proper implementation of the amended law through funding and strong institutions.
Matepo said these steps are necessary to protect the rights, dignity and equal opportunities of people with disabilities, as required by Nigerian laws and international agreements.
The Ogun State SCIAN chairman, Ayodele Awobona, also urged the Assembly to focus on the disability law amendment instead of the DEI Bill.
In response, the Speaker of the Assembly, Oludaisi Elemide, said the DEI Bill aims to promote fair representation and reduce gender inequality. He promised that all suggestions made during the public hearing would be considered in preparing the final draft of the bill. He added that the bill will help protect vulnerable groups in the state.
People with disabilities in Nigeria still face many problems, such as poor access to basic services, poverty and discrimination. Some reports say up to 25% of Nigerians live with some form of disability. Many depend on families, NGOs and religious groups for support because enforcement of disability laws is still weak. Meanwhile, the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities continues to work on enforcing the 2018 Act, which protects the rights of people with disabilities across the country.
You said:The Spinal Cord Injury Association of Nigeria (SCIAN) has raised concerns about the new Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Bill currently being discussed at the Ogun State House of Assembly.
The association said the bill mainly focuses on gender issues and only briefly mentions the concerns of people with disabilities. They argued that to properly protect the rights of the estimated 600,000 people with disabilities in Ogun State — as required by United Nations standards — the Assembly should instead work on the amendment to the 2017 Ogun State Disability Law. This amendment was submitted to the Assembly in October.
SCIAN said the Assembly may continue working on the DEI Bill if it wants, since it focuses mostly on gender, but it should not replace the already submitted disability law amendment. SCIAN President, Abdulwahab Matepo, said this in a memo submitted at the public hearing on the DEI Bill held at the Assembly Complex in Abeokuta on Wednesday.
Matepo explained that after the disability law was signed in 2017 by former Governor Ibikunle Amosun, disability groups organised a two-day workshop to create practical suggestions for improving the law. The updated draft was first submitted in March 2025 and then re-submitted on October 14, 2025 after another meeting with the Speaker.
He said he was surprised that instead of improving the existing law, the Assembly introduced a DEI Bill that only includes disability as one of many broad social groups. He insisted that the DEI Bill and its proposed commission cannot replace or weaken the Ogun State Disability Law. He added that the DEI Bill does not properly address the specific needs of people with disabilities, who make up about 15% of the state’s population.
SCIAN therefore called for the immediate review and passage of the amendments to the 2017 disability law, the creation of the Ogun State Commission for Persons with Disabilities with full legal powers, and the proper implementation of the amended law through funding and strong institutions.
Matepo said these steps are necessary to protect the rights, dignity and equal opportunities of people with disabilities, as required by Nigerian laws and international agreements.
The Ogun State SCIAN chairman, Ayodele Awobona, also urged the Assembly to focus on the disability law amendment instead of the DEI Bill.
In response, the Speaker of the Assembly, Oludaisi Elemide, said the DEI Bill aims to promote fair representation and reduce gender inequality. He promised that all suggestions made during the public hearing would be considered in preparing the final draft of the bill. He added that the bill will help protect vulnerable groups in the state.
People with disabilities in Nigeria still face many problems, such as poor access to basic services, poverty and discrimination. Some reports say up to 25% of Nigerians live with some form of disability. Many depend on families, NGOs and religious groups for support because enforcement of disability laws is still weak. Meanwhile, the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities continues to work on enforcing the 2018 Act, which protects the rights of people with disabilities across the country.
You said:The Spinal Cord Injury Association of Nigeria (SCIAN) has raised concerns about the new Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Bill currently being discussed at the Ogun State House of Assembly.
The association said the bill mainly focuses on gender issues and only briefly mentions the concerns of people with disabilities. They argued that to properly protect the rights of the estimated 600,000 people with disabilities in Ogun State — as required by United Nations standards — the Assembly should instead work on the amendment to the 2017 Ogun State Disability Law. This amendment was submitted to the Assembly in October.
SCIAN said the Assembly may continue working on the DEI Bill if it wants, since it focuses mostly on gender, but it should not replace the already submitted disability law amendment. SCIAN President, Abdulwahab Matepo, said this in a memo submitted at the public hearing on the DEI Bill held at the Assembly Complex in Abeokuta on Wednesday.
Matepo explained that after the disability law was signed in 2017 by former Governor Ibikunle Amosun, disability groups organised a two-day workshop to create practical suggestions for improving the law. The updated draft was first submitted in March 2025 and then re-submitted on October 14, 2025 after another meeting with the Speaker.
He said he was surprised that instead of improving the existing law, the Assembly introduced a DEI Bill that only includes disability as one of many broad social groups. He insisted that the DEI Bill and its proposed commission cannot replace or weaken the Ogun State Disability Law. He added that the DEI Bill does not properly address the specific needs of people with disabilities, who make up about 15% of the state’s population.
SCIAN therefore called for the immediate review and passage of the amendments to the 2017 disability law, the creation of the Ogun State Commission for Persons with Disabilities with full legal powers, and the proper implementation of the amended law through funding and strong institutions.
Matepo said these steps are necessary to protect the rights, dignity and equal opportunities of people with disabilities, as required by Nigerian laws and international agreements.
The Ogun State SCIAN chairman, Ayodele Awobona, also urged the Assembly to focus on the disability law amendment instead of the DEI Bill.
In response, the Speaker of the Assembly, Oludaisi Elemide, said the DEI Bill aims to promote fair representation and reduce gender inequality. He promised that all suggestions made during the public hearing would be considered in preparing the final draft of the bill. He added that the bill will help protect vulnerable groups in the state.
People with disabilities in Nigeria still face many problems, such as poor access to basic services, poverty and discrimination. Some reports say up to 25% of Nigerians live with some form of disability. Many depend on families, NGOs and religious groups for support because enforcement of disability laws is still weak. Meanwhile, the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities continues to work on enforcing the 2018 Act, which protects the rights of people with disabilities across the country.
