’Rep. Abbas Tajudeen, Ph.D, Speaker of the House of Representatives, has reiterated his unwavering commitment to advancing the rights and welfare of Persons Living with Disabilities (PLWDs) in Nigeria.
This assurance came during a visit from the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD) to his office on Wednesday. Speaker Abbas, alongside Deputy Speaker Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, Ph.D, and other lawmakers, welcomed the NCPWD leadership for discussions on ongoing support for the disability community.
Speaker Abbas highlighted the achievements following the 2018 passage of the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act, pointing to increased public awareness, better accessibility to essential services, and the establishment of the NCPWD.
“While we have seen progress, particularly in sectors like banking where accessibility reforms are underway, significant challenges remain. Limited funding, insufficient public awareness, and the lack of accessible public infrastructure are barriers to full implementation of the Act,” he said.
Speaker Abbas assured the NCPWD that the House would continue to work towards addressing these obstacles. He promised stronger legislative oversight, better representation of PLWDs in policy-making, and increased budgetary support for accessibility initiatives. He also emphasized the need for ongoing collaboration and asked for detailed recommendations on how legislative actions can accelerate progress.
“Collecting accurate data to inform our policies and increase the efficiency of disability initiatives is another crucial area we are focusing on,” Speaker Abbas added. “We remain fully committed to ensuring that persons with disabilities in Nigeria are given the rights and opportunities they deserve.”
Earlier in the meeting, Executive Secretary of the NCPWD, Hon. Ayuba B. Gutwan, lauded Speaker Abbas for his continuous support, particularly through the appointment of a Special Assistant from the disability community and the naming of a Chairman for the House Committee on PWDs.
Gutwan also celebrated Speaker Abbas’s introduction of sign language interpreters in the National Assembly chambers—a historic first for the institution. He further advocated for disability-friendly policies, a 5% employment quota for PLWDs in both public and private sectors, and a yearly budget of N60bn for the NCPWD to carry out its mandate across the country.
To recognize Speaker Abbas’s contributions to the disability community, the NCPWD officially named him the ‘Champion of Disability Rights in Nigeria.’