Julius Ihonvbere, Majority Leader of Nigeria’s House of Representatives, has voiced strong concerns over the failure to implement the Prohibition Against Persons With Disabilities Act, blaming both public and private sectors for their lack of action.
At a recent public hearing in Abuja hosted by the House Committee on Disability Matters, Ihonvbere emphasized that without a shift in attitude toward this vital law, the situation for persons with disabilities will remain dire. The law, which was signed into effect in 2018 by former President Muhammadu Buhari, is being treated as insignificant, according to the political leader. “Many Nigerians, including heads of government agencies, see the Act as a mere joke,” he lamented.
The Edo State lawmaker also bemoaned the failure to recognize the immense contributions of persons with disabilities to Nigeria’s national development. He noted that the National Orientation Agency (NOA) is only now beginning to educate the public about the significance of the law. Drawing attention to the scale of the issue, Ihonvbere cited a World Health Organization report estimating that Nigeria is home to about 20 million persons with disabilities, representing nearly 4% of the country’s population.
“Unless we take drastic measures, this Act will remain just ink on paper,” he warned, pointing out that less than 5% of the law’s mandates have been implemented since its passage. Ihonvbere called for straightforward changes like making buildings more accessible and criticized the lack of enforcement of disability rights compared to countries abroad, where even parking in designated spaces without a proper tag draws immediate penalties.
Ihonvbere attributed the poor implementation of the Act to a lack of political will among authorities. He proposed a revision of the law, suggesting fines of N10 million for corporate bodies and N2 million for individuals who disobey the law, along with potential jail time. He also questioned the lack of accessibility provisions in public transportation, asking, “What kind of society have we become?”
He further condemned Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) for neglecting their obligations under the Act. “Section 2 clearly mandates raising awareness about the rights, respect, and contributions of persons with disabilities, yet little has been done,” he said. Even the NOA is only beginning to fulfill its duty to inform the public about the law, he noted. Ihonvbere also stressed that disability could affect anyone at any time, urging Nigerians to acknowledge the reality of this issue.
In conclusion, he warned that the continued failure to implement the Act would significantly harm the country’s socioeconomic development. “This neglect only deepens our collective failure to act in the best interests of vulnerable communities,” he added.
Meanwhile, Bashiru Dawodu, Chairman of the Committee on Disability Matters, said the public hearing aimed to gather feedback from the disability community to assess the current level of implementation of the Act.