Institute pushes for domestication of discrimination against PWDs Act in states

The Africa Polling Institute (API) has begun mobilisation and sensitition of relevant stakeholders to push for the domestication of the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act 2019, by state governments.

Dr Grace Bila of the Department of Special Needs Education and Rehabilitation Sciences, Kaduna Polytechnic, made this known in Kaduna on Monday at a meeting with stakeholders in the North West Zone.

Bila explained that the meeting on disability issues and domestication of the Act in the zone, was organised in collaboration with Kaduna Polytechnic.

She said that the objective was to sensitize stakeholders, identify gaps and develop strategies to fast-tract the domestication of the Act in all states in the zone.

According to her, the overall goal is to have a barrier-less and inclusive society for all.

“This meeting is a component in the process of generating data to support public policy on disabilities in the country, especially at state level.

“It will help to engender public engagement targeted at ensuring that states domesticate the Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act, 2019,” she said.

She explained that upon signing the bill into law, the Federal Government had enjoined all states and the Federal Capital Territory to domesticate same for implementation.

She said that the law provided legal protection and addressed all disability related issues being experienced by Persons with Disability (PWDs) in the society.

Bila said that the Act made provision for accessibility to physical infrastructure, transportation, liberty, rights to education, health and first consideration in queues.

She added that other provisions included accommodation and emergencies, as well as opportunity for employment and participation in politics and public life.

In his remarks, Mr Ekene Okonkwo, Senior Research Associate, API, explained that the stakeholders meeting was ongoing across the six geopolitical zones in the country.

Okonkwo added that the institute was working in collaboration with scholars in the field of disability studies to produce and disseminate credible research data.

According to him, the goal is to support better decisions, public policy, practice, and advocacy in the country.

He explained that API, with support from Ford Foundation, was currently leading a Nigeria Disability Research Project, which sought to generate data on PWDs across the country on the disability Act.

“This laudable action is providing a giant leap and ensuring the foundational policy for promoting inclusion of PWDs in the country,” he said.

Mr Salisu Ibrahim, a virtually impaired partner in the implementation of the project in the North West Zone, noted that while some states had made progress in efforts to domesticate the act, others had not.

Ibrahim pointed out that until the Act was domesticated and implemented, PWDs would continue to face the challenge of exclusion in all spheres of life.

Another implementing partner, Mrs Hadiza Umar, Executive Director, Hope Community and Children Initiative, said that the meeting would enable stakeholders to understand the issues of PWDs.

According to her, understanding the issues affecting PWDs will guide the stakeholders to strategically push for inclusion of PWDs in all works of life. .3