Governor of Bayelsa State, Douye Diri, has signed the Persons With Disabilities (PWDs) and the Bayelsa Medical University Teaching Hospital (BMUTH) Bills into law.
Diri assented to the bills on Wednesday during the 188th State Executive Council meeting at Government House, Yenagoa.
The governor described the PWDs legislation as “profound” and “the people’s law,” saying it guarantees dignity, equal opportunity and fair treatment for all Bayelsans regardless of physical condition.
He commended the sponsor of the bill, Dr. Charles Daniel, member representing Brass Constituency I in the House of Assembly, for his persistence, describing it as one of the best legislations to emerge from the state legislature.
He also lauded the Speaker and members of the Assembly for the speedy passage of the bill, noting that the law would address the exclusion of persons with disabilities in public and private infrastructure.
He said, “I had directed the Deputy Governor when he was the Chief of Staff to initiate an Executive Bill that would take care of our brothers and sisters living with disability.
“I was later informed there was already a private member bill sponsored by Dr. Daniel, and so I directed the executive arm to work with him. That is the product we have today.
“For me, this is one of the best pieces of legislation that has come out of the State House of Assembly.
“I commend members of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly and the very hardworking Speaker for giving very quick attention to this bill and passing it with the speed of light.”
The governor acknowledged that PWDs in the state had recognised government’s interventions even before the law was enacted, adding that his administration’s performance would not be measured by physical projects alone.
He added, “We often build houses and public infrastructure without considering the entrance and parking spaces for our brothers and sisters with disability.
“I’m happy that the chairman of the PWDs association has acknowledged most of what this government has been doing, even without this law, to ensure that we do not leave them out.”
The new law is expected to strengthen protection, access and inclusion for PWDs across the state.
On the bill formally establishing the BMUTH, Diri said the law brings to an end years of debate over the need for a second teaching hospital in the state.
“So, from today we have established a teaching hospital, an institution of its own for the medical university.
“There was a time we even debated in this chamber whether it is economically wise to have two teaching hospitals in our state, because we already had the Niger Delta University Teaching Hospital,” he said.
He contended that the decision was anchored on necessity, stating that the state cannot operate a medical university without a teaching hospital.
Earlier, the Speaker of the State Assembly, Abraham Ingobere, said the PWDs Agency Bill had its first reading on October 15, 2024, and its third reading and passage on March 18, 2026.
Ingobere said the agency would have a part-time chairman to be appointed by the governor and a Director-General who would oversee its day-to-day running and shall be a person with disability.
The Speaker stated that when established, the agency would ensure that facilities such as public transport, public parking lots and public buildings are accessible to persons with disabilities.
He also noted that one out of every 10 seats in a public bus shall be reserved for physically challenged persons, while suitable spaces shall be properly marked and set aside for such persons in public parking lots.
Speaking on behalf of the Joint National Association of Persons With Disability, Bayelsa State Chapter, the chairman, Mr. Mayor Doutiminariye, described the governor as a father figure who has ensured from the inception of his administration that physically challenged persons enjoy the protection and recognition of the state government.
He thanked the governor for performing what he described as a “miracle” by signing the bill into law.
At the same meeting, the governor announced the dissolution of the board of Bayelsa United Football Club and the sacking of the technical crew following the team’s relegation from the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) to the Nigerian National League (NNL).
He said an interim management would be constituted to oversee the club’s reorganisation and facilitate its immediate return to the top flight of Nigerian football, directing all affected board members, coaches and officials to hand over the club’s property in their possession to the Commissioner for Sports Development without delay.
