As part of the Commission’s efforts to integrate Persons with Disabilities in the scheme of things in Nigeria and to match up to President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, the Executive Secretary National Commission for Persons with Disabilities, Dr. James David Lalu has expressed his readiness to collaborate with the Ministry of Art, Culture and Creative Economy.
Lalu made this disclosure today in Abuja, when he payed a working visit to the office of the Hon. Minister of Art, Culture and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musa Musawa.
In his address, the Executive Secretary stated that the Ministry is very central to the Enforcement of the Accessibility law as it is a very important stakeholder in the Disability community.
“We assure you that we have thousands of persons with disabilities who are already into arts, culture and creative economy; many of them have done their all while trying to showcase their skills, their capacities, innovations and abilities in that field, and we see your Ministry as a unique vehicle through which Disability Community will succeed in Nigeria” he stated.
Lalu further reiterated that sections 2 to 16 of the Discrimination Act dealt primarily on the areas of Accessibility for Persons with Disabilities and urged the Hon. Minister to ensure that all the Agencies under her purview are made accessible for Persons with disabilities.
“Section 6 of the law clearly gave a 5 year moratorium, from 17th of January, 2019 which elapsed on the 16th of January, 2024 and of course, gives the Commission the power to enforce the provisions of the Act on Accessibility for Public buildings” he revealed.
The ES also made known that the Commission has processed and produced the National Accessibility Regulation which provides the specific standardization for accessibility facilities for Persons with Disabilities in Nigeria.
“May I use this opportunity to implore the Hon. Minister to call on all the Agencies under the Ministry to comply with the provisions of this law” He said passionately.
In addition, Dr. Lalu stated that section 29 of the Disability Act stated that 5 percent of employment opportunities be made available to Persons with Disabilities and spurred the Minister to see that Persons with Disabilities are not left out of this opportunity within the various Agencies under her supervision.
He, however, expressed the gratitude of the 35.5 million Nigerians with Disabilities to the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation for including the 5 percent employment opportunities for Persons with Disabilities in the Civil Service Rules.
Nevertheless, the Executive Secretary further said that Persons with Disabilities are widely read and are desirous of being part of decision making, especially on issues of their welfare.
“We, hereby enjoin the Hon. Minister to consider including Persons with disabilities in policy making especially in areas of creative economy to enable them to contribute meaningfully in the Nation building”
In her response, the Hon. Minister of Art, Culture and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musa Musawa who was obviously impressed with the Es’ presentation expressed her willingness to collaborate with the Commission in all facets of inclusivity and vowed to goad all the Agencies under her supervision to key into the provisions of the Act on Accessibility and Employment.
Mbanefo JohnMichaels I
Head Press and Public Relations Unit, NCPWD
24 January, 2024
