The Senate president, Dr Bukola Saraki, has said to people living with disabilities that their bill is done with the Senate as the conference committee report on the bill is passed, INN reports
The Senate President made this known in a message he posted and shared on Facebook. He says, “Today we passed the Conference Committee Report on Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Bill.”
“Many of you would recall that 30 days ago (on February 28th, 2018), when the Kpakpando Foundation for People with Disabilities came to visit me at my Office, and I promised them that by the end of March, we would pass the Conference Committee Report of this Bill. Today, we did this — and it will now be sent to Mr. President for his assent.” the elated Senate President said.
He also said that as soon as the Bill becomes a law, it will provide social protection for persons with disabilities and safeguard the over 20 million Nigerian that live with disabilities from any discrimination that they may suffer from.
It could be recalled that the disability bill contains provisions that will ensure people living with disability in Nigeria are protected against discrimination and harmful practices. The bill also provides for rights of persons with disabilities to have access to public premises, accessibility aids at public building, access to road and sidewalk, protection at situation of risk and humanitarian emergencies, prohibition of use of persons with disabilities to solicit for alms.
Also, the law provides for the right to free education, right to free healthcare, prohibition of segregation, right to work and employment, provision of special communication at hospitals, right to participation in politics, and a National Commission to address complaints of harassment, discrimination and harmful practices against persons with disabilities, amongst others.
Also, many a stakeholder have been in the forefront over the issue of Disability Bill, e.g. the kpakpando Foundation, ERPDI, CCD, IFA, JONAPWD etc and other notable individuals. This particular move by the Senate makes it the fourth time the Disability Bill have scaled through the National Assembly.
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