In alignment with its Legislative Agenda’s Agenda Six: Inclusion and Open Parliament, the House of Representatives has reaffirmed its unwavering dedication to ensuring the comprehensive implementation of the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities Act throughout Nigeria. This commitment extends to individuals, governmental bodies, and corporate entities across the nation.
Chairing the House Committee on Disabilities, Representative Bashiru Ayinla Dawodu (APC, Lagos) articulated this stance during a briefing with the House of Representatives Press Corps at the National Assembly Complex in Abuja on Tuesday. Representative Dawodu emphasized the pivotal role of the Committee in overseeing the effective enforcement of the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities Act 2018, particularly in addressing issues concerning discrimination, healthcare, accessibility, education, employment, and other essential facets of livelihood.
Rep. Dawodu notably denounced a recent incident involving the denial of access to a wheelchair user, Adebola Daniel, at a KFC outlet in the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos. Expressing concern over such discriminatory acts, he asserted the Committee’s commitment to investigating the matter in adherence to House regulations. Moreover, he underscored the broader significance of Mr. Daniel’s ordeal in shedding light on the systemic challenges encountered by individuals with disabilities in Nigeria.
Highlighting the imperative of upholding the Disability Act’s provisions, Rep. Dawodu underscored the National Assembly’s authority in overseeing its enforcement. He affirmed the Committee’s resolve to monitor compliance across various sectors, including recruitment, housing, transportation, and healthcare, while also praising the proactive measures taken by both the Federal and Lagos State governments in safeguarding the rights of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs).
Furthermore, Rep. Dawodu urged State governments to emulate Lagos State’s lead by domesticating the Disability Act, emphasizing the pivotal role of the Ministry of Information in fostering awareness and inclusivity for PWDs in public discourse. He stressed the vital importance of stakeholders, including businesses, in adhering to the Act’s provisions and assured of the Committee’s proactive engagement with communities to facilitate its effective implementation.
Despite Nigeria’s ratification of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities (CRPD) in 2007 and the subsequent signing of the Discrimination Against Persons With Disabilities (Prohibition) Act (DPDPA) by President Muhammadu Buhari in 2019, Rep. Dawodu lamented the lack of compliance since the grace period ended in January. With the moratorium on the Act’s provisions expiring in January 2024, he emphasized that any breach thereof now constitutes a violation of the law, urging all stakeholders to uphold the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities.
