Group Calls For Implementation of Section 2 of Disability Act

David O. Anyaele, Executive Director Centre for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD), has applauded States governments that have adopted the Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act 2018 or passed disability laws in their respective States.

Anyaele, in a press statement to mark this year’s International Day of People with Disabilities, also raised the concern that Section 2 of the Disability Act, which provides that the Federal Ministry of Information shall make provisions for promotion of awareness regarding- (a) the rights, respect and dignity of persons with disabilities, (b) the capabilities, achievements and contributions of persons with disabilities to the society; has not happened for four years after the passage of the Act.

He said Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of the Federal and States governments are doing little or nothing to ensure the full implementation of the disability law.

“We are excited to join disability movements across the globe to commemorate this year’s International Day of Persons with Disabilities. December 3 is a date set aside annually for the observance of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities. The day was proclaimed in 1992 by the United Nations General Assembly resolution 47/3.”

“The observance of the Day aims to promote an understanding of disability issues, and mobilize support for the dignity, rights and well-being of persons with disabilities. It also seeks to increase awareness of gains to be derived from the integration of persons with disabilities in every aspect of political, social, economic, and cultural life.”

“The theme of this year’s event is “Transformative Solutions for Inclusive Development: The Role of Innovation in Fueling an Accessible and Equitable World“. This year’s event is an opportunity to reflect and to ask critical questions on the extent that the Federal government and its subnational are responsive to the full integration of persons with disabilities into the society and ensuring for their education, health care and the protection of their social, economic, and civil rights.

“We are impressed with State governments that have adopted the Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act 2018 or passed disability laws in their respective States. The last time we checked the following States have a law that protects their citizens with disabilities: North Central (Kogi, Kwara, Nasarawa, Niger, and Plateau States), Northeast (Bauchi State), Northwest (Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Sokoto and Zamfara States), Southeast (Abia, and Anambra States), South South (Cross River, and Edo States) and Southwest (Ekiti, Lagos, Ondo, and Oyo States). We are calling on Akwa Ibom, Adamawa, Bayelsa, Benue, Borno, Delta, Ebonyi, Enugu, Imo, Ogun, Osun, Katsina, Kebbi, Gombe, Rivers, Taraba, and Yobe States government to take appropriate measures to protect their citizens with disabilities without further delay through the adoption of the Disability Act.”

“We are concern that Section 2 of the Disability Act, which provides that the Federal Ministry of Information shall make provisions for promotion of awareness regarding- (a) the rights, respect and dignity of persons with disabilities, (b) the capabilities, achievements and contributions of persons with disabilities to the society; this has not happened for four years after the passage of the Act. Line Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of the Federal and States governments are doing little or nothing to ensure the full implementation of the disability law. This is made obvious through the *none* prioritization of disability issues in budgetary provisions by 16 Federal MDAs responsible for disability affairs in Nigeria. This is made worse in States with a disability commission with little or no resources for operations, turning them into institutions of begging. Therefore, if the governments are not implementing the disability laws in the land, who will protect the rights of PWDs? We call on members of the Federal and States House of Assembly to demand for the budgetary provisions and activities from all Ministries, Departments, and Agencies for the full implementation of the Disability Law.”