INVITATION TO DISABILITY ALLIANCE FOR TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY IN NIGERIA (DATA-NIGERIA)

[Adebukola Adebayo]

Dear Friends,
CAN THE DISABILITY COMMUNITY IN NIGERIA DEMAND FOR TRANSPARENCY AND
ACCOUNTABILITY FROM GOVERNMENT?

It isn't news any more that the social sector is the least budgetted
for by all levels of govrnment in Nigeria. It isn't also news that
disability issues directly fall under the social sector. What should
probably be news to us is the much we know about how this little
resources alocated to disability issues is spent.

Has any one cared to ask? Or do persons with disabilities possess the
capacity to ask?

For decades now, PWDs have been constantly discriminated against and
relegated by virtually all strata of the Nigerian society. From our
families upto the highest echelon of government, PWDs are perceived as
people with little or no capacity to do things even for themselves. In
fact, the commonest opinion is that "they should be helped" as if the
word "help" is only limited to disability.

The charity approach to disability issues has held sway for decades in
Nigeria and it has inflicted so much dammage to our self-esteme that
even PWDs themselves often give-in and totally submit to a state of
self-defeat. This situation has generally killed our boldness and
confidence to resist situations, attitudes and behaviours which abuse
fundamental rights naturally granted to us as human beings and which
governments at all levels must protect.

In the face of these incapacitations, the society rides rough on our
sholders; governments, the private sector, development agencies, civil
society groups, and even families obtain resources in the name of
"disability" and virtually do what they like with it; knowing that no
one will ask them to give account.

I'm sure that it will also not be news to any one that some
disgruntled PWDs are themselves co-conspirators in this regard. It is
said in proverbial palanse that "the lizard will find no abode in the
walls but for the cracks therein" So, it has become a case of "double
giopperddy" for the disability community especially those PWDs who
live in abject poverty; those with little or no education and those
who are disadvantaged in view of their gender.

We are definitely not speaking for those compromised disabled public
or civil servants who constantly feel that their jobs are threatened
if they take action. We are not the voice for the few conspirators who
align with development agencies and the private sector to shortchange
the disability community. It is also not about elitist development
projects which continue to enrich a few and do little or nothing to
give voice to the truely marginalized in the disability community.

But, whether we like it or not, some one must speak up! I also know
that those with good consciences within the disability community will
echo this voice; demanding for accountability!

It will soon be half a decade since the Freedom of Information Act
(FOIA) was entrenched in our law books. Yet, the disability community
seem to be virtually ignorant of this. In addition, so much knowledge
has been put in the public domain about budget advocacy, yet, PWDs
seem not to be too interested in this.

Are we simply OK with the statusquo? Should persons, groups,
organizations and governments continue to obtain and use resources in
the name of "disability" and not give account?

This is the time for change!

Act now by joining Disability Alliance for Transparency and
Accountability in Nigeria (DATANIGERIA)

datan...@googlegroups.com
https://groups.google.com/d/forum/DATANIGEERIA

Share knowledge; build capacity; and take action!




--
Dr. Adebukola S. Adebayo
Founder & Director General, Human & Organizational Resources
Development Centre (HORDC),
No. 9, Ade-Agbo Cresent, Powerline, Alagbado, Lagos, Nigeria.
parc....@gmail.com

Executive Secretary, Disability Policy & Advocacy Initiative DPAI,
(formerly Lagos Civil Society Disability Policy Partnership LCSDPP)
lcsdpp...@gmail.com

Executive Director, Research and Programmes, Christia (C&T)
Consultancy Services Limited, No 1, Sule Abore STR., Ojodu, Lagos,
Nigeria christia...@yahoo.com

+2348028974873, +2348039472763, +2348189407514

Educationist;
Human Resource & Organizational Development Consultant;
Disability Policy & Inclusive Access Consultant.

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