The Centre for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD) has
commended the leadership of the National Assembly for the Gazetting of the
Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act. With this,
the Disability Act regime has been announced by the government, as it now part
of laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and could be sited at the court of
law. Recalling that the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities
(Prohibition) Act was signed on the 23rd of January 2019 by President Mohammadu
Buhari after a protracted campaign by organisations of persons with
disabilities Nigeria. In a press release signed by CCD Executive Director,
David O. Anyaele, he appreciated the passage of the Disability Bill into an Act
is in fulfilment of Nigeria obligation to the international community and the
United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. He called
on government to ensure that the purpose of the Act is for the full integration
of persons with disabilities into the society and establishes the National
Commission for Persons with Disabilities; and vests the commission with the
responsibilities for their education, health care, social, economic and civil
rights is achieved: He urged the Federal Government to take urgent actions to
ensure implementation of the National Disability Act. The first step expected
from the government is the establishment of the National Commission for Persons
with Disabilities as provided in part 7, section 31 of the National Disability
Act. He singled out the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture to take
urgent action to ensure the full implementation of part 1, section 2 of the Act
which provides that the Ministry shall make provisions for promotion of
awareness regarding- the rights, respect and dignity of persons with
disabilities; capabilities, achievements and contributions of persons with
disabilities to the society.
