Centre for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD)’s 1st Commemoration of the passage of the Nigeria Disability continued on Wednesday with the engagement of line ministries and agencies to understand their roles and responsibilities. Relevant ministries like Ministry of Works, Environment, Information, Education, Justice, Youth and Sports, etc and Agencies like National Orientation Agency (NOA) were also at the meeting, Relevant Committees of National Assembly were also at the meeting/
Executive Director of CCD, David Anyaele speaking at the event said that the essence of engaging the line ministries and MDAs is for the Ministries and the MDAs to identify the provisions of the act which relates to their duties and come up with ways CCD and OPDs should engage so that the implementation of the act will be successful.
An Official from the National Assembly said that the National Assembly will ensure that the National Disability Commission is established by the president in accordance to the provision of the National Disability Law.
A Clerk of House Committee on Information Jekop Dan-Alih represented by Mr Yakubu Ayatu-Kadin, Dan-Alih said that the commission was imperative to the implementation and enforcement of both the transitioning and non-transitioning provisions of the act. He went on to suggest that CCD should make effort to meet with all the stakeholders in information to ensure that awareness is created around the act.
Dr Fatima Waziri-Azi, Rule of Law Advisor in the office of the vice-president, advised Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) and Organisations of PWDs (OPDs) to do more lobbying, and advocating engaging those who have the ears of the president to push for the establishment of the National Disability commission. Speaking further, if the commission is not established, the act will not be fully implemented, it will be good of paper.
Mr Yakubu Argungun-Mohammed, Clerk Senate Committee on Youth and Sport Development, noted that the commission would be placed under the appropriate committee for the purpose of oversight.
Mr Mustapha Sadiq Clerk House Committee on Human Rights, during his speech said that whether there was a budgetary provision or not for the commission, OPDs should push hard to see to the setting up of the commission and full implementation of the act.
Speaking further, he noted that existence of the commission would guide stakeholders on ways of collaborating and partnering for the effective implementation of the act.
He also assured the public that the commission would be properly placed under an appropriate committee for over sight.
Centre for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD) and other OPDs should engage stakeholders, pay courtesy visits to relevant agencies, write letters and make proposals.
If everyone is saying the same thing, the president will have no choice than to do the needful which is establishment of the commission because it is the vehicle that will propel the act,’’ she said.
She, however, advised CCD and OPDs not to focus only on the federal law, but to push for the domestication of the law at state levels.
Waziri-Azi reiterated her commitment to supporting the movement for the establishment of the commission and the implementation of the law by offering tangible assistance, granting access, and giving advice.
Mr David Anyaele, Executive Director of CCD, appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to justify the enactment of the law by establishing the commission as prescribed by the law.
This, he said, would reduce the frustration and the burdens on the lives of Nigerians with disabilities.
He decried that one year had gone since the enacted of the law and that more would be lost, if nothing was done to bring the law to live.
Odunayo Bolarinde, a representative of the Federal Ministry of Justice, urged agencies to considerately look at the disability law and its content from a humanitarian aspect.
He also urged line ministries, departments and agencies to have recourse to the ministry by giving advice, making recommendations and making budgetary proposal also to NASS in conjunction with the ministry.
Recallimg that Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act 2018, also known as National Disability Act, was passed by the 8th session of the National Assembly. It was assented to by Buhari on Jan. 17, 2019 and made public on Jan. 23, 2019.
The section 31 of the act provides for the establishment of National Commission for Persons with Disabilities to help provide guide and process in which the act will be implemented to address discrimination and harmful practices faced by persons with disabilities.
The act also contains provisions that ensure access to public infrastructures, rights to work, right to political participation, right to education, right to first in queues, right to heath, protection against discrimination and harmful treatment, protection at situation of risk and humanitarian emergencies, among others.
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