The Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD) has petitioned the Oyo State House of Assembly, calling for urgent legislative intervention to reposition government special homes and rehabilitation centres serving persons with disabilities across the state.
The petition, read on the floor of the House during plenary, urged lawmakers to place all government-run special homes and rehabilitation centres under the direct supervision and management of the Oyo State Agency for Persons with Disabilities. This agency is the statutory body established to coordinate disability-related policies and programmes in the state.
A Decade of Institutional Stagnation
In the petition, JONAPWD expressed deep concern over what it described as prolonged institutional stagnation in the state’s special homes. The group revealed that many of these facilities have reportedly operated for about a decade without structured new admissions or measurable graduations of beneficiaries.
According to the Association, rehabilitation and special education institutions are not intended to function merely as custodial facilities. Instead, they are meant to provide:
- Structured academic instruction
- Therapeutic interventions
- Vocational training
Clear pathways for graduation and societal reintegration.
The Association noted that the absence of regular intake, turnover, and measurable completion processes in the past ten years suggests systemic dysfunction and a deviation from the original objectives for which the facilities were established.
Concerns Over “Custodial” vs. “Rehabilitation” Models
JONAPWD further lamented what it described as a gradual drift from the core mandate of the homes, stating that many of the centres now operate largely as custodial institutions rather than active rehabilitation hubs.
The petition pointed out that many beneficiaries are not provided with Individual Development Plans (IDPs), structured vocational training pathways, certification benchmarks, or transition planning frameworks. These tools are essential to enable individuals to become economically independent and socially integrated.
According to the Association, the current model inadvertently encourages dependency instead of empowerment, falling short of modern disability governance standards that emphasize dignity, productivity, and social inclusion.
Administrative Misalignment and Oversight Issues
The group also raised concerns over what it termed administrative misalignment and fragmented oversight in the management of the facilities. They argued that the current supervisory structure has failed to deliver:
- Policy coherence and data-driven monitoring.
- Institutional synergy and donor engagement.
- Structured accountability for effective operations.
JONAPWD noted that the exclusion of the state’s disability-focused statutory body from the direct supervision of the homes has led to a duplication of responsibilities and weakened governance efficiency in the sector.
The petition emphasized that the Oyo State Agency for Persons with Disabilities was established specifically to drive inclusive policies, engage development partners, and ensure compliance with rights-based frameworks. Maintaining special homes outside its purview, the group argued, undermines the law and weakens institutional coordination.
The Road to Reform: Technical Colleges and Productivity Hubs
Beyond identifying challenges, the association highlighted opportunities for strategic reform. They suggested transforming these facilities into functional special technical colleges and structured rehabilitation centres.
Such a transformation would enable the institutions to provide technical and vocational certification, empowering adults and elderly persons with disabilities with skills for self-reliance. This aligns with modern inclusive development standards and the broader socio-economic vision of the Oyo State Government.
Legislative Action and Next Steps
JONAPWD urged the House to take decisive action by instituting a comprehensive legislative inquiry into the operational status of all special homes across Oyo State.
Specifically, they called on lawmakers to:
- Review existing administrative and supervisory frameworks.
- Pass a resolution transferring management of all government special homes to the Oyo State Agency for Persons with Disabilities.
- Provide legislative backing for structured admission systems and vocational integration pathways.
The Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Adebo Ogundoyin, thereafter committed the petition to the House Committee on Women Affairs for further legislative actions.
