Centre for Citizens with Disabilities in collaboration with Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent De Paul and Marian Pat Foundation on Friday in Abuja in commemoration of one year of the passage of disability bill into act embarked on roadwalk for an awareness campaign for public to know about the act and to draw the attention of the government towards the non-implementation of Act for the past 12 months.
Executive Director, CCD, Mr. David Anyaele described the non-implementation of the Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act signed by the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd.) on January 17, 2019, as a disservice to about 25 million Nigerians with disabilities.
The group comprising mostly persons with disabilities converged at Unity Fountain where they took off from stopped first at Ministry of Justice before heading to Maitama to the office of the Secretary to Government of the Federation at the three arms zone.
The group were prevented from accessing the SGF, Boss Mustapha, by security agents that locked the entrance gates against them.
Undeterred by this, the group spent over one hour at the gate singing solidarity songs, dancing and demanding the implementation of the Act, which if a commission is set up will start addressing issues of discrimination and harmful practices.
After over an hour, the SGF sent representatives who came and demanded for David Anyaele and four other representatives to have a meeting with the SGF in his office.
Anyaele stated, “The SGF has refused to implement the Disability Act which offers protection to 25m Nigerians with disabilities and which would result in the establishment of the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities.
After the meeting which was held with the Permanent Secretary of SGF. David Anyaele speaking with the press after the meeting said that the Perm Sec promised to work with the group but he will need implementation strategy document to enable him make appropriate recommendation for the establishment of the disability commission.
“The Act contains provisions that ensure people with disabilities in Nigeria are protected against discrimination and harmful treatment. It also ensures protection at the situation of risk and humanitarian emergencies; right to health, education, work, and employment.”
The disability advocates unanimously in their message stated that the Act was critical and its implementation is key to the rehabilitation, reintegration and mainstreaming of persons with disabilities into our society.
