Benin: Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) in Edo have called on the Federal Government to amend the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021 to mandate oil companies to reserve five per cent of their jobs for PWDs. This appeal was made at the conclusion of a three-day workshop in Benin, aimed at ensuring PWDs' inclusion in the benefit structures outlined in the PIA within the Niger Delta region.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the workshop, facilitated by the Center for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD) and themed 'Ending Barriers Against Niger Deltans with Disabilities (EBAND)', produced a charter detailing key demands. A primary request was for the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) to enforce the employment of at least five per cent of PWDs by oil companies in their host communities, aligning with the National Disabilities Law.
Additional demands in the charter included the inclusion of PWDs in Host Communities Development Trusts (HCDTs) and ensuring PIA-funded projects are accessible. The charter also emphasized the need for healthcare access, educational scholarships, and improved data collection on PWDs in oil-producing host communities, as well as their involvement in host community needs assessments.
The group further advocated for the integration of disability rights into Trust Deeds and the operational frameworks guiding development activities in host communities. In his closing remarks, Mr. Godwin Unumeri, Acting Director of CCD, stated that the charter represented the unified voice of Edo PWDs seeking inclusion in PIA frameworks. He highlighted the workshop's support from the Ford Foundation, underscoring the commitment to preventing PWDs' exclusion from PIA processes.
Mr. Unumeri encouraged PWDs to pursue opportunities across Edo's economic sectors, advising against dependence solely on governmental philanthropic gestures. Ann Ojugo, Chairperson of Edo JONAPWD, expressed gratitude to the CCD and Ford Foundation for their support of disability-focused initiatives in the state. She committed to sharing the workshop's outcomes with PWDs in local government areas who could not attend, ensuring broader outreach and impact.