Stakeholders at a capacity building programme organized Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) Community of Practice with support from VOICE Nigeria in Abuja have called for the urgent implementation of the Disability Act.
The two-day stakeholder and rightholders capacity building forum had as its theme, “Implementation of the Disability Act; Breaking Barriers and Creating Opportunities for people with Disabilities.”
The Centre for Ability, Rehabilitation and Empowerment Care represented by Favour Ajara pointed out that one of the things causing the slow implementation of the Disability Act was its inassessibility in the society.
She said, ” There is lack of information of the Disability Act itself. It happens that most of the stakeholders are not aware that the Disability Act exists. Then also is the lack of political will.
“So if you look at this whole factors you will know that stakeholders are not aware and politically government is not also aware that this is what they should do and implement it. Yes it has been passed to law but it needs to be implemented to enable the mainstreaming of persons with disabilities (PWDs) into the society fully.
“For it to be fully implemented, I would say that the 36 states of Nigeria including the FCT should sign a bill to law so as to make sure they start the implementation. The law has an implementation window of five years that would be expiring next year January 2024.
“So after that, we can come out and sue whoever does not work according to the law that is already on ground.
“They should make available structures assessible for PWDs, include us in programmes to make sure that we participate like every other person because it is our right. We are citizens and it is our right to participate fully in the society like every other person.”
The Lead Director, Better Living Advancement Centre, Musa Muazu Musa, who also spoke along the same lines urged that the Disability Act be implentated urgently so PWDs can be fully integrated in the society.