Disability Group Petitions Oyo Assembly on Special Homes
JONAPWD Raises Alarm Over Oyo Disability Homes
The Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD) has petitioned the Oyo State House of Assembly, raising concerns over the state of Oyo disability homes and calling for urgent reforms to improve rehabilitation services for persons with disabilities.
The petition, presented during plenary, urged lawmakers to transfer the supervision and management of government-run special homes and rehabilitation centres to the Oyo State Agency for Persons with Disabilities.
According to the association, placing the facilities under the agency would strengthen coordination, ensure accountability and reposition the Oyo disability homes to better serve beneficiaries.
Petition Alleges Decade of Institutional Stagnation
In the petition, JONAPWD expressed concern that several Oyo disability homes have reportedly operated for nearly a decade without structured admission processes or measurable graduation of beneficiaries.
The group noted that rehabilitation institutions are designed to provide structured academic instruction, therapy and vocational training that enable beneficiaries to transition into independent living.
However, the association argued that the current situation suggests systemic dysfunction, with many facilities operating largely as custodial institutions rather than centres for rehabilitation and empowerment.
Lack of Structured Programmes Raises Concerns
JONAPWD further observed that many beneficiaries in Oyo disability homes lack Individual Development Plans, vocational training pathways and certification benchmarks that would prepare them for social and economic reintegration.
The association warned that the absence of structured programmes risks promoting long-term dependency rather than empowerment.
It added that modern disability governance standards emphasize dignity, productivity and social inclusion, principles that the current system has struggled to uphold.
Group Blames Fragmented Oversight
The association also pointed to administrative misalignment in the management of Oyo disability homes, describing the current supervisory structure as fragmented and ineffective.
According to the petitioners, the absence of direct oversight by the Oyo State Agency for Persons with Disabilities has led to duplication of responsibilities and weakened policy coordination in the sector.
JONAPWD argued that the agency was established to coordinate disability programmes, standardize services, engage development partners and ensure compliance with rights-based frameworks.
Maintaining special homes outside the agency’s direct supervision, the group said, undermines the intent of the law establishing the agency.
Call for Transformation into Technical Rehabilitation Centres
Beyond highlighting the challenges, the association proposed a strategic reform of Oyo disability homes, suggesting that they be transformed into functional special technical colleges and structured rehabilitation centres.
Such institutions, it noted, could offer vocational and technical certifications, enabling persons with disabilities to develop skills for self-reliance and economic participation.
The group added that reforming the facilities could turn them into productive hubs aligned with the state’s broader socio-economic development goals.
Assembly Committee to Review Petition
JONAPWD urged the Assembly to institute a comprehensive legislative inquiry into the operational status of all Oyo disability homes across the state.
The association also called for legislative backing to introduce structured admission systems, graduation processes and sustainable rehabilitation programmes within the institutions.
In response, the Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Adebo Ogundoyin, referred the petition to the House Committee on Women Affairs for further legislative consideration and necessary action.
