The Centre for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD), has called for domestication of Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act in 17 States across Nigeria.
The Centre made the call in a statement commemorating the 4th anniversary of the National Disability Law on 17 January, 2023.
David O. Anyaele, the Executive Director of CCD said, “President Muhammadu Buhari signed into an Act the Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Bill 2018. By this singular act, the reign of discrimination and other harmful practices against more than 31 million persons with disabilities in Nigeria was brought to an end.”
While commending the passage of different versions of the disability laws at the subnational levels, Anyaele expressed gratitude to the following States, North Central (Kogi, Kwara, Nasarawa, Niger, and Plateau States), Northeast (Bauchi State), Northwest (Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Sokoto and Zamfara States), Southeast (Abia, and Anambra States), Southsouth (Cross River, and Edo States) and Southwest (Ekiti, Lagos, Ondo, and Oyo States).
He also urged “Akwa Ibom, Adamawa, Bayelsa, Benue, Borno, Delta, Ebonyi, Enugu, Imo, Ogun, Osun, Katsina, Kebbi, Gombe, Rivers, Taraba, and Yobe States government to demonstrate that the lives of persons with disabilities matter by adopting that National Disability Law.
“The anniversary is an opportunity to remind governments at Federal, State and Local Government levels, as well as the private sectors that we have 12 months to the end of the moratorium for the full compliance to specific provisions of the Act.”
The director also disclosed that CCD is organizing the 4th anniversary of the passage of the Act as part of the efforts to evaluate the extent of the implementation of the Act by State institutions.
“The one-week event would be held in Abuja.
“The theme of the anniversary is “2023 General Elections and Beyond: Creating The Future We Desire for Citizens with Disabilities”. The primary objective of the anniversary is to brainstorm with State and non-State institutions on their roles and responsibilities for full compliance with the provisions of the Disability Act.
“It is also expected that at the end of the event, stakeholders would identify costless approaches for the full compliance to the provisions of the Disability Act; and identify opportunities for collaborations to ensure no-one is left behind in development agenda by reason of his or her disability.”