An Address by CCD Boss David Anyaele, at the 3rd Anniversary of the Passage of the Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act, Abuja

Mr. Anyaele was a guest speaker at the opening of the 3rd Anniversary of the Passage of the Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Acts held at the Auditorium of the National Human Rights Commission, Abuja on January 18, 2022.

David O. Anyaele, is the Executive Director, Centre for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD). He delivered the following remarks:

“I am excited to welcome you to this year’s anniversary of the Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act 2018, AKA Nigeria Disability Rights Acts. This is the 3rd Anniversary of the passage of the Act. President Mohammadu Buhari on the 17th of January 2019 signed the disability bill into an Act ending the 18 years struggle to secure a law that would prohibit discrimination and other harmful practices against more than 31 million Nigerians with disabilities.

The theme of this year’s anniversary is 2023 General Elections and the Future of Nigerians with Disabilities. The aim of this year’s event is to create awareness on the rights of persons with disabilities, and to stock on efforts of stakeholders towards ensuring the full implementation of the Disability Rights Act, as well as to evaluate the extent of the performance of the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities in the discharge of its responsibilities for the education, healthcare and the protection of PWDs Social, Economic, Civil Rights, and other related matters.

This year’s event is the largest gathering of influential men and women with disabilities cut across the 36 States of Nigeria and Abuja Federal Capital Territory. The anniversary is part of the activities for the implementation of our project on Research and Monitoring of the Implementation of the National Disability Policies and Regulations in Selected States in Nigeria. I thank the Ford Foundation for supporting the project, and this Anniversary in particular. The goal of this project is to ensure inclusion, participation and mainstreaming of disability issues in all State and non-State actors’ program and activities in Nigeria. I will equally use this opportunity to appreciate the Executive Secretary, National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Mr. Tony Ojukwu (SAN) for supporting this event with a donation of the Auditorium for three-day.

Less I forget the successes recorded in the first and second anniversaries of the Disability Rights Act, which were supported by Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption (ROLAC) program of the British Council and support from the European Union. The following successes were achieved:

1st Anniversary of the National Disability Rights Act 2020

1. Secured commitment from the Presidency and Office of the Secretary to the government of the Federation for the establishment of the National Commission on Persons with Disabilities
2. Established close ties with media executives for sustained engagement with policy makers to increase media reportage on disability issues
3. CSOs commit to partner with OPDs for activities that will promote implementation of the Act, as CSOs present at the event made a commitment to mainstreaming of disability issues in their current programmes.
4. Ministries, Department, and Agencies present at the event demonstrate interest to prioritize disability issues, as the Centre Bank of Nigeria representative agrees to open access for engagement of their institution on access to banking halls and services in Nigeria.
5. Commitment from diplomats present at the event to support OPD’s work, as Embassy representatives directed OPDs to their platforms for possible areas to support disability work in Nigeria.
6. OPDs understanding of the provisions of the disability Act was enhanced. It was a daily presentation of the National Disability Act to participants majorly PWDs.

2nd Anniversary of the National Disability Rights Act 2021

1. The Executive Secretary, National Commission for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD) commits to sponsor the subsequent Anniversary of the Disability Rights Act, and use the platform to render an account of his stewardship to Nigerians.
2. The Chairman, House Committee on Disability Matters made a commitment to prepare, present and support legislation at the National Assembly that will guarantee equitable justice and inclusive society for persons with disabilities in Nigeria.
3. The Chairman and the Executive Secretary, National Commission for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD) made commitments to run an open and transparent commission that will be inclusive, fair and just to everyone.
4. Line MDAs, particularly, Federation Ministry of Works and Housing made a commitment to ensure all public buildings under the Ministry are accessible to all persons with disabilities by improving on the adjustments already commenced. It also made commitments to facilitate inclusion of persons with disabilities in housing projects under the Ministry and construct some housing units that will be accessible to PWDs.
5. Professional bodies, in particular Institute of Town Planners assured participants that efforts will be made in ensuring that the original plans of FCT with walkways are maintained and violators sanctioned.
6. CCD made commitments to double her efforts in creating awareness and holding programmes that will promote implementation of Disability Rights Act.

In order to ensure that this year’s event is richer, we have the rear privilege and honour to have in our midst the Provost, College of Post Graduate School, Babcock University, Prof. Ayandiji Aina as our guest lecturer on the day 1 of the week. The Executive Secretary of the NCPWD is expected to fulfil his promise by rendering an account of his stewardship to participants on the day 2, even as we listened to Dr. Sam Amadi as he leads participants on holding the commission accountable. It is expected that on day 3 that Dr. Hussaini Abdu would be leading us on holding the duty bearers accountable as we approach 2023 general elections, even as organisations of persons with disabilities would be sharing their efforts aimed at ensuring the full implementation of the disability act.

Ladies and gentlemen, as we all know that the National Assembly passed and transmitted the electoral bill to Mr. President late last year for assent. Regrettably, the President returned the bill as he requested for the deletion of some clauses and with a promise to sign the bill after correction from the NASS. It is expected that the NASS will resume today after Christmas and New Year breaks, we wish to use this opportunity to appeal on the NASS to speedily make corrections on the bill for onward retransmission to Mr. President for assent.

The Bill is important to persons with disabilities as it provides in clause (54) as follows:

A Voter with visual impairment or another form of disability who is otherwise unable to distinguish symbol or who suffers from any other physical disability may be accompanied into the polling unit by a person chosen by him or her and that person shall, after informing the Presiding Officer of the disability, be permitted to accompany the voter into the voting compartment and assist the voter to make his or her mark in accordance with the procedure prescribed by the Commission.

The Commission shall take reasonable steps to ensure that persons with disabilities, special needs and vulnerable persons are assisted at the polling place by the provision of suitable means of communication, such as Braille, Large embossed print or electronic devices or sign language interpretation, or off-site voting in appropriate cases.

The electoral bill made strong provisions which is widely believed would enhance access, participation of PWDs in the electoral process and election integrity in Nigeria. It is important to state that come 2023, more than 61% of 31 million voting population of PWDs are willing to take advantage of this improved electoral bill when signed to law to increase PWDs participation democratic governance.

While we wait for the new electoral act, I wish to urge Nigerians with disabilities that are 18 years and above to join politics. We have opportunities there. In one of the political parties in Nigeria, there are more than 1400 positions across the 36 States of the Federation, reserved for persons with disabilities. We must not allow these positions to waste.

I strongly believed that it won’t be long we shall possess our possessions as we work for the full implementation of the disability rights act.

Thank you.