Adebukola Adebayo, the Lagos State Chairman of the Joint National Association of Persons With Disabilities (JONAPWD) has drawn the attention of the administration of Babajide Sanwo-Olu to some of the plight of the special persons.
Speaking during a press conference on Thursday regarding the plights of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) in the state, Adebayo asked the Lagos State Government to urgently address the “humongous concerns” of PWDs, which he said include the alleged misappropriation of fund currently ongoing in the Lagos State Office for Disability Affairs (LASODA). According to him, the act of corruption has ‘denied over 2.5 million persons with disabilities in Lagos State their rights’.
Consequently, the JONAPWD boss demanded that Governor Sanwo-Olu urgently constitute the LASODA Governing Board; end favouritism in allocating funds to specific disability clusters; among other requests.
“The administration of contracts by LASODA is a gross violation of the Lagos State Procurement law,” Adebayo said. “Specifically, LASODA awarded contracts to a company with no legal or corporate identities—and some not eligible for the award they got.
“For contexts, G.O. Dynasty has secured more than 30 percent of the 18 awards, since 2021, yet it has no corporate identity with the Corporate Affairs Commission. In event management, G.O. Dynasty got at least two contracts: a one-day sign language training for 200 civil servants at the cost of 3.5 Million Naira; and ‘Planning for Media Plan Workshop’ for 1.6 Million Naira.
“NEOTS, an oil-and-gas company based in Warri, from Warri, Delta, also received at least four LASODA’s contracts in events management, a field alien to hydrocarbons exploration. In supply of hardware, the company got two contracts: the agency’s office furniture for N2.5m in 2021, and mobility devices for the LASODA General Manager and his public affairs manager. The second award stood at N2.3m.
“Two other contractors were listed on the CAC the same day, on Feb. 27, 2020, and few months later, with no proven track record, they started grossing in LASODA’s contracts. Both have four between them so far.”
Persons with disabilities in Nigeria persistently face stigma, discrimination, and barriers to accessing basic social services and economic opportunities. As a result, JONAPWD was set up to promote the rights and development of Nigerians.
