Taking a proactive stance to safeguard the rights and enhance the well-being of individuals with disabilities in Nigeria, the federal government has declared the impending enforcement of the Disability Rights Act, slated to commence in January.
Africa Today News, New York, sheds light on the passage of the Disability Rights Act by the National Assembly in January 2019, marking a significant achievement following years of dedicated advocacy by disability rights activists.
Up until now, the legislation has not seen full enforcement. The act encompasses an extensive range of rights, encompassing the prevention of discrimination against individuals with disabilities in crucial areas like education, employment, healthcare, and public transportation.
James David Lalu, the Executive Secretary of the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD), revealed this during a press briefing held in Abuja on Thursday.
He stated that the primary aim of this initiative is to eradicate discrimination and ensure equal opportunities for every citizen, regardless of their physical or mental abilities.
He emphasized the federal government’s commitment to promoting inclusivity, equal access, and social justice for persons with disabilities (PWDs).
He said, ‘When you look at the provisions of the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities Prohibition Act, there are a lot in that law. The PWD community carefully sent them to develop that law, and it has taken many years of struggle to get to where we are today.’
‘Having done that, the commission has been established and given full responsibility for the enforcement of the provisions. Today, they have stated in the last five years that they are even now in the five years surrounding. We are now transitioning from an era of advocacy to an era of enforcement.’
‘The era of enforcement is here, and by January, the commission is expected to move out in full force to make sure that the provisions of the law are properly enforced.’
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‘The commission will start meeting with its partners and compose the task force immediately before Christmas. Everything will be on the ground before the roundup of this year so that as we come in early next year, the task force will be inaugurated, and immediately after, by the time on 16th of January 2024, will be the expiration date. By midnight after the 17th of January, the Commission and task force will move out in full force.’
Lalu highlighted that the evaluation went beyond just facilities for the seamless movement of Persons With Disabilities (PWDs) and also delved into aspects of employment and the general staff structure.
Upon completion of the assessment, he outlined that two certificates would be granted, one indicating sustainability and the other confirming full compliance.
‘The Commission will visit key offices to start their physical assessment of facilities in key offices. Our assessment may not only focus on the physical facilities but also the composition of the staff in these institutions.’
‘We want to know how many they have regarding persons with disabilities, the total number of staff in these institutions, and the maintenance of that 5 per cent in these institutions.’
‘So we have to find out all of these so that we’re able to determine whether they complied with the law. When you look at the provisions of the regulation, there are two certificates that the commission is empowered to issue. The first certificate is about the accessibility compliance certificate.’
‘So, we will assess the building and see if it complies with the provisions of the regulation and the provisions of the law. The compliance certificate will be issued to PWDs, and once it is issued, it is expected to be valid for 5 years. After 5 years, we will check again to know if these facilities are still working. If, after 5 years, they are working, we will reissue them.’
‘Also, the disability compliance certificate looks at the overall compliance of the institution with the provision, including the discrimination against persons with disabilities. If you comply with a disability, you will comply with employment, environment, setting, capacity building, among others.’
Reiterating this standpoint, Beta Edu, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, stressed the need for a coordinated effort among stakeholders to guarantee compliance with the Act. Additionally, she emphasized the essential step of incorporating the Act into the legal framework of all states.
‘All that is needed now is the cooperation and support of all stakeholders in Nigeria, including persons with disabilities themselves, to ensure that no stone is left unturned and no one is left behind in the sustainers of strategic advocacies, stakeholder engagement, and effective utilization of opportunities to create for them by the policies and programs of the federal government a better point to leverage from.’
‘The full implementation and enforcement of the Disability Act is the collective responsibility of all Nigerians. It’s not what the federal government can do alone. All other levels of government—state, local, and even our communities—must become very conscious of this implementation and push for it.’
‘Also, we want this Act to be domesticated and implemented in all the states. So, we’re challenging all the speakers and the state houses of assembly to quickly swing into action, working with the executive, to domesticate this Act, as well as create a commission that can be a wireline for those at the grassroots,’ she said.