TQM report,
The House Committee on Disability led by Hon. Princess Miriam Onuoha in a working visit to The Albino Foundation (TAF) reiterated their commitment towards ensuring that Disability law is domesticated in all the states of the Federation so that persons with disabilities in all the nooks and crannies of the country would be protected by law against discriminatory practices against them.
Hon. Princess Miriam Onuoha speaking during the courtesy visit, said that her committee is ready and committed towards intensifying actions to ensure that disability law is ratified and domesticated in all states of the federation.
Hon. Princess Miriam Onuoha while appreciating Mr. Jake Epelle , the CEO/ Founder of The Albino Foundation for his warm reception said that following the retreat organized by Sightsavers for House of representatives especially on her committee in Owerri, Imo State, the Committee have resolved to do the following
- Review the Committee Work Plan,
- Promote Bills on the Right and welfare of PWDs
- Increase funding for Disability Commission,
- Draw up strategies for compliance and enforcement of the provision of the Disability Act
- Draw up Strategies for domestication of the Acts in all the State of the Federation,
- Carry out advocacies and sensitization on the interments of the Disability Act,
- Hold a National Disability Summit
- Set up a Committee to oversee the organizations of the National Summit on Disabilities scheduled to hold by the end of the year.
- Set up a technical Committee comprising of all stakeholders to identify legislations that seek to promote the welfare and wellbeing of Communities of Persons with Disabilities, in all area of endeavor. These legislations include: Alteration to the Constitution on the Review of the Exclusive legislative list precisely item 60; Nigeria Copyright Commission Amendment Bill.
- Amend the UBEC Act to transfer the 2% allocation for Persons with Disabilities to the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities,
- Hold engagement with relevant stakeholders with a view to enrich the Bill that seeks to establish the Disabilities Trust Fund,
- Monitor the Motion in the House, to cause a review to the Building Code, by the relevant Authorities to be in compliance with the Disabilities Act,
- Set out a time frame for the execution of identified outline tasks
She said that at end of the retreat, they saw the need to deepen the interactions and collaboration and that is what necessitated their visit to TAF to continue to carry out their duties as it stipulated in Order 20, Rule 31 of the Standing Orders of the House of Representatives which includes Oversight of National Commission for Persons with Disabilities, Coordination of the Ratification and Implementation of the Persons with Disability Act, Ensuring Inclusion of Persons with disabilities in Government Programmes and Policies, Advocating for Domestication of Disability Act by States of Federation, Budget Estimation among others.
The Committee solicited for the support of TAF towards realizing their mandate which is achieving the full integration of persons with disabilities into the society through provisions for education, health care, social, economic and civil rights.
The Committee also called for the organizations’ technical support by making input in legislations and other tasks that maybe referred to Committee for consideration. It will enable the Committee discharge their responsibilities and obligations to disability community.
While addressing the press, she frowned at the way the MDAs are ignoring the provisions of the Act as it relates to the employment on PWDs, she described the action as discriminatory and criminal stating that Nigeria Disability Act has criminalize discrimination against anyone on the basis of disability.
“Let the public know that discrimination against persons with disabilities is now criminal and offenders are liable to face the law. No offence is smaller than the other and as small as discrimination might sound, it is an infraction on the rights of persons with disabilities” she added.
CEO/Founder of the Albino Foundation, Mr Jake Epelle earlier in the welcome remarks, commended the committee for finding time to pay a courtesy visit to TAF and eulogies Hon. Princess Onuoha and her members over their commitment towards promoting the rights of persons with disabilities saying that the passion have been awesome.
He assured the Committee of the support of the community of persons with disabilities saying that TAF is interested in legislation and governance and advised that the committee intensify their cooperation with TAF and other organization of persons with disabilities (OPDs) to actualize their mandate towards persons with disabilities in Nigeria.
He promised the Committee that the event at Transcorp on 30th September will witness a large number of leaders of disability and the discussions would be robust for the benefits of disability Community in Nigeria.
Barrister Daniel Amechi Onwe, the President of Association of Lawyers with disabilities in Nigeria (ALDIN) described the visit of House Committee on Disability as revolutionary and commendable which is an indication that members of the Committee are committed towards enhancing the wellbeing of persons with disabilities. He was delighted with what the Committee pointed out that they should be focusing on saying that the ideas will surely promote the rights of persons with disabilities in Nigeria.
“Yes we have legislation, it is being implemented at the national level and getting it domesticated at the respective States and identify other relevant laws that will enhance the wellbeing of persons with disabilities that are not effective and brought them to the spotlight” he stated.
The Committee on the courtesy visit were received by some OPDs such TAF, JONAPWD, Nigeria Association of Blind (NAB), Nigeria National Association of the Deaf (NNAD), Abuja Association of the Deaf (AAD), ALDIN among others.
