Disability Bill: CSO calls for fast track of implementation

Disability Rights Advocacy Centre (DRAC), a civil society organisation, has called on the National Assembly to grant the disability right bill into law.

The centre, at this year’s celebration of International Day of Persons with Disabilities, said the bill, which has been reintroduced at the eighth Senate by Francis Alimikhena, would be a good ground for eliminating all forms of discrimination against persons with disabilities and other, enable them access to benefits from other social amenities of life.

Irene Ojiugo Patrick, DRAC executive director in her address, expressed concern about what she described as near neglects of persons with disabilities in governance, just as she advised the government, civil society organisations and the media to undertake comprehensive reviews on progress and difficulties being encountered by people with disabilities in Nigeria.

“The new administration of President Muhammadu Buhari must ensure that persons with disabilities have full participation, equal position and accessibility becomes mainstreamed in every sector of Nigeria’s development,“ according to Patrick.

She stressed that in order to improve on the inclusion call, government must begin to appoint competent and qualified women with disabilities to prominent governmental positions in order to reduce the stigma associated with being a woman with disability. We want women with disabilities to be granted leading positions in order to challenge stereotypes, shoe value and change things internally to have an impact externally”. She said

Other members of the coalition include Centre for Social Justice (CSJ), Health Reforms Foundation of Nigeria, (HERFON), with support from USAID, Australian-Aid and a host of other Organizations.

The 3rd day of December annually as proclaimed in 1992 by the United Nations General Assembly Resolution 47/3 is celebrated globally as the International Day of Persons with Persons with Disabilities.” The day is kept to promote an understanding of disability issues and mobilize support for the dignity, rights and well being of persons with disabilities worldwide.