The Bayelsa State House of Assembly has passed the Bayelsa State Disability Rights Bill on March 18, 2026, following months of legislative deliberation and a direct intervention from the disability community urging lawmakers to recognize only legitimate representatives.
The legislation, which now awaits Governor Douye Diri’s assent to become law, establishes comprehensive protections for persons with disabilities across education, healthcare, employment, and social participation while prohibiting discrimination and exclusion.
The passage follows a March 24 warning issued by the Joint National Association of Persons with Disability, Bayelsa State Chapter, which cautioned Speaker Abraham Ingobere and Assembly members against engaging with individuals it described as impostors falsely claiming to represent the disability community.
In an open letter, the association led by Chairman Mayor Ekpomokumor affirmed that its current leadership remains the sole recognized voice for persons with disabilities in the state, noting that suspended individuals had attempted to interfere with the legislative process by misrepresenting themselves to lawmakers.
The association further revealed that its legitimate delegation had recently visited the Assembly and received confirmation that the bill had advanced through multiple legislative stages, expressing optimism that continued cooperation would secure enactment.
Recall that the legislative journey began with sponsorship by Hon. Daniel Charles and substantial contributions from Hon. Ayibanegiyefa Egba, who chairs the House Committee on Women, Children and Social Development.
The process further incorporated extensive stakeholder engagements and public hearings designed to align the legislation with the actual needs and aspirations of the disability community rather than the interests of self-appointed representatives.
These consultations proved critical in shaping provisions that mandate access to educational opportunities, guarantee healthcare services, protect workplace rights, and establish enforcement mechanisms to uphold dignity and equal treatment.
Rractibg, the Centre for Disability Rights, Empowerment and Development, having witnessed the historic passage from within the Assembly chambers, commended Speaker Ingobere for prioritizing inclusive governance through tangible legislative action.
The organization characterized the bill as a vital instrument for securing the rights of citizens who have historically faced systemic barriers to full participation in state affairs.
Governor Diri’s signature now represents the final procedural step before the bill transforms into binding law, triggering the establishment of structured implementation frameworks and enforcement bodies.
Also, for JONAPWD, the anticipated enactment validates years of advocacy under its current leadership, which has already secured over forty political appointments for persons with disabilities and advanced inclusive programming statewide.
The association’s preemptive warning about representation appears to have successfully safeguarded the legislative process from interference, ensuring that the final legislation reflects authentic community priorities rather than the agendas of displaced claimants.
The development now positioned Bayelsa among Nigerian states advancing dedicated disability rights frameworks, signaling what local advocates describe as a fundamental shift toward genuine inclusion and the systematic dismantling of barriers that have constrained the full participation of persons with disabilities in the state’s social and economic life.
