..Commision attached sign language interpretaters to INEC, NPC.
No fewer than 700 persons with disabilities will participate as observers in the upcoming 2023 general elections, NewsSpecng learnt.
The Founder of the Albino Foundation, Jake Epelle who disclosed this on wednesday said In partnership with Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) they are to deploy an on the spot app that will give on the spot assessment of what is happening in every polling unit.
Epelle also said that sign language interpreters will be deployed to the two chambers of thebNational Assembly as part of the efforts to ensure inclusiveness.
He said, “We are going to be deploying 700 members of persons with disability as observers” in the coming 2023/general election.
He also added that “In partnership with INEC, we are going to deploy an on the spot app that will give us an on the spot assessment of what is happening in every polling unit. Real time data, real time video.”
On how to empower their members, he said, “We are also deploying members of the community as interns, we are going to the states to ensure that we begin to give the oppurtunity for persons with disabilities to learn from those who are already in the house, so that they can be future legistlator.
“We are deploying for the first time in the history of this country, sign language interpreters in the two houses of the National Assembly. So the Senate and House of Representative will have a sign language interpreter and their salary to be paid for three years.”
He also said “We are also focusing on electability. Electability is a program that will focus on those that is vying for elective office. And also for those that will be appointed into appointive office.
“We have the data centre that will focus on the data around disability inclusion. Not only around disability inclusion, we are also interested in the inclusive forth coming census and we have put all the parameters in place to ensure that we participate fully.
Also speaking, Executive secretary, National Commission of Persons with Disabilities, James Lamu, said the commission is working towards the regulations of sign language in Nigeria to properly integrate sign language in the society.
He said the commission is also working towards employing up to 250 sign language Interpreters.
“My primary language still remains sign language, and because of that, I am able to reach where I am today.
“Therefore when people are talking about sign language, I understand what sign language means. We are working on the regulations of sign language in Nigeria to properly integrate sign language in the society, and we are working towards employing up to 250 sign language interpreters.”
Stressing on the use of sign Language, James said the INEC Chairman, Mahmood Yakubu, will be assigned with one sign language interpreter, while the National Population Commission Chairman, Nasir Isa Kwarra will be attached with 30 interpreters.
“Therefore today, at this program here, we are attaching a sign language interpreter to the INEC chairman and then, 30 sign language interpreters to the National population commission chiarman.” he added.
James while thanking the INEC Chairman, Mahmood, said “What the INEC is doing is completely inline with the provisions of the discrimination of prohibition act, 2018. Therefore session 30 made it very clear the participations of persons with disabilities in the electoral system is a compulsory issue, therefore, we thank the INEC chairman for obeying the law.
“Additionally, section 26 also made it very clear, that when it comes to cueing, persons with disabilities must be given the highest priority. And therefore as we approach the 2023 general election, we are pleading with the INEC chairman, the section 26 should be very clearly printed and pasted in every polling unit so that everybody will come and see it.”
Speaking to a team of people with disability, he stressed that “The disability certificate remains a primary identification instrument for the disability community, so that we will continue to identify with the community and give them the neccessary proper treatment as the law states.”
He also urged the chairman of the National Population to get the actual population in the coming census.
