Taraba PWDs Raise Alarm Over Discrimination, Demand Disability Law Enforcement

Persons with disabilities in Taraba State have called on the state government to urgently enforce the Persons with Disabilities Law to address the issue of discrimination among members of the public.

They warned that, the failure to implement the legislation has continued to expose members of the community, particularly women to exploitation and other forms of abuse.

The stakeholders said, despite the domestication of the law on July 23, 2025, persons with disabilities were yet to fully enjoy the rights and protections guaranteed by the legislation.

They stressed that, its passage must be followed by concrete actions to address the challenges confronting them.

The demand was made at a stakeholders’ town hall meeting and policy dialogue held under the 2026 National Policy Advocacy Lab (N-PAL), organised by a serving National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member, Mary Yusuf, in Jalingo.

The dialogue, themed:”From Law to Action,” brought together representatives of government institutions, human rights organisations, disability advocacy groups and members of the disability community to examine implementation gaps and identify practical measures for translating the law into tangible benefits.

Speaking at the engagement, Mary Yusuf said the initiative was designed to assess the extent of implementation of the legislation, identify barriers limiting the enjoyment of rights by persons with disabilities and develop actionable recommendations for relevant government institutions and stakeholders.

The corps member said the dialogue was also aimed at securing institutional commitments towards ensuring that the law moved beyond its legal status to deliver meaningful protection, inclusion and equal opportunities for persons with disabilities.

Yusuf emphasised the need for sustained collaboration among government agencies, civil society organisations and the disability community, noting that effective implementation required collective responsibility, institutional accountability and continuous engagement.

Also speaking, Hamza Magaji, a representative of the Taraba State Persons with Disabilities Agency, expressed concern over the persistent discrimination and exploitation of persons with disabilities, particularly at social gatherings.

Magaji, who communicated through an interpreter, said women with disabilities were especially vulnerable to discriminatory treatment and exploitation.

He called for deliberate measures to protect them against abuse and ensure that their dignity and⁹ fundamental rights were respected.

He urged the government and relevant institutions to intensify public enlightenment, strengthen institutional support and establish effective mechanisms for addressing complaints and protecting persons with disabilities from discrimination.

The Taraba State Government domesticated the Persons with Disabilities Law on July 23, 2025, a development widely welcomed by disability rights advocates, as an important step towards promoting inclusion and protecting the rights of persons with disabilities.

However, participants at the dialogue observed that the existence of the law alone was insufficient to address the longstanding challenges confronting the community without effective enforcement, adequate institutional support and sustained public awareness.

Representatives of the Office of the Secretary to the State Government, the National Human Rights Commission and the National Orientation Agency, among other stakeholders, acknowledged the importance of the engagement and reaffirmed their commitment to supporting efforts towards effective implementation of the legislation.

Some of the participants also stressed the need for stronger coordination among relevant agencies to ensure that persons with disabilities had access to public facilities, social services, economic opportunities and other rights provided for under the law.

They expressed optimism that the recommendations would provide a framework for sustained advocacy, improved accountability and the creation of an inclusive society where persons with disabilities could exercise their rights and participate fully in public life.

The dialogue was expected to produce a communiqué containing practical recommendations and commitments to guide the state government’s efforts towards accelerating the implementation of the legislation.