CCD to apply naming and shaming against abusers and violators of disability law

Centre for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD)’s 1^st Commemoration of the passage of the Nigeria Disability continued on Thursday in Abuja, the last day of engagement with stakeholders in which they engaged the members of diplomatic community themed: learning lessons on disability rights advocacy in Nigeria with diplomatic communities.

Mr. David Anyaele, Executive Director of Centre for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD) said that since the government, private structure owners, stakeholders, state and non-state actors, Nigerians and the public were not ready to comply with the law, the next action would be naming and shaming. One year since the law was enacted, there is no process or no sign for implementation.

If the commission is not established, most some sections of the law will be difficult to enforce, we will call out those sitting on the progress of persons with disabilities in Nigeria in public and private institutions, and name and shame them for abusing the rights of Persons With Disabilities (PWDs).

Anyaele said that the act of naming and shaming will make bring the abusers and violators of the law to public domain and their friends and well-wishers will ask them questions and it will also bring to the notice of others about the existence of law.

CCD boss also said that it is only when PWDs are fully benefitting from the government and they are also included and participate in all programmes then one can say that Nigeria is being well governed.

Ms Toyosi Giwa, Coordinator of Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption (RoLAC ) programme, a British Council-managed project when advising the CCD and OPDs on the way forward said that “the naming and shaming approach was a laudable initiative that should be brought to life”.

Giwa reiterated that RoLAC would support CCD while urging the group to intensify its efforts in creating more awareness by exploring the use of the media.

Mr. Edet Ojo, said that OPDs should explore all avenue to popularize the act. OPDs should use all kind of media to create awareness about the act. He said that social media which is the most popular way people have access to information should be heavily explored by OPDs.  

Recall that section 2 of the act provides for awareness creation which the act mandates the ministry of information to carry out but unfortunately, one year down the line, the minster of information Chief Lai Mohammed have not even mentioned National Disability Act in most of his press releases.

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