Jumoke Olasunkanmi
The House of Representatives has called for more sensitisation on the Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act, 2018, with the aim of upholding the rights of persons with disabilities (PWDs) in Nigeria.
This followed the adoption of a motion moved by Hon. Bashiru Dawodu in plenary on Tuesday.
The House also resolved to urge the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation, along with religious organisations, to initiate public sensitisation campaigns on the Act.
It further urged states to domesticate the law within their jurisdictions, and the Committee of Disabilities was mandated to ensure compliance
Leading debate on the motion, the lawmaker, quoting data from the World Health Organisation and World Bank, reported that Nigeria has an estimated 30 million PWDs in the country whose rights must be upheld as referenced in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disability 2007, to which Nigeria is a signatory.
However, despite the enactment of the Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act in 2018, twenty-three states in the federation are yet to domesticate the law, perpetuating discrimination and non-inclusion and raising concerns over the effectiveness of the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation in promoting awareness.
He stated that his worries were compounded by the fact that PWDs, who make up approximately 15% of Nigeria’s population, continue to face discrimination, stigmatisation and exclusion in both private and public sectors, contrary to the provisions of section 36 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended).
