Gombe may pass disability bill soon, says commissioner

The Gombe State Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General, Zubairu Umar, has promised that the Disability Bill would be signed in the first quarter of 2024.

Umar disclosed this when he received the leadership of the state chapter of the Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities in his office on Friday.

Our correspondent reports that the visit was initiated by JONAPWD in collaboration with Civil Society Organisations, stakeholders and the media who are key partners in the development of the draft bill.

The commissioner said, “The bill will be carefully studied by the Gombe State Executive Council and be forwarded to the legislative arm of government for passage before the end of 2023.”

While lauding the representatives of the disability community for their support and loyalty to the Inuwa Yahaya-led administration, Umar urged them to maintain the tempo.

Speaking earlier, the leader of the delegation, who is also the deputy chairman of JONAPWD, Bala Jibrin, said they were in the office to congratulate Umar, on his re-appointment as a member of the State Executive Council and also present to him a draft of the disability bill, “for onward transmission to the state governor.”

Jibrin also explained that when the bill is signed into law, “It will go a long way in addressing many disability challenges in the state.”