Disability Law: CCD Calls For Adoption By Non Complying States

Disability Law: CCD Calls For Adoption By Non Complying States

By Otobong Gabriel, Abuja

The Centre for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD), has called on some states who are yet to implement the disability law to do so to show that the lives of persons with disabilities matter by adopting the National Disability Law which provide for the full integration of persons with disabilities into the society and ensures their education, health care and the protection of their social, economic, and civil rights.

Executive Director, Centre for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD), David Anyaele made the call in a press statement to mark the 4th Anniversary of the Disability Act and made available to newsmen in Abuja on Monday that States like  Akwa Ibom, Adamawa, Bayelsa, Benue, Borno, Delta, Ebonyi, Enugu, Imo, Ogun, Osun, Katsina, Kebbi, Gombe, Rivers, Taraba, and Yobe are yet to  adopt the National Disability Law. 

According to him, the anniversary is an opportunity to remind governments at Federal, State and Local Government levels, as well as the private sectors that we have 12 months to the end of the moratorium for the full compliance to specific provisions of the Act.

 

Recall, on the 17th of January 2019, President Muhammadu Buhari signed into an Act the Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Bill 2018. By this singular act by President Buhari, the reign of discrimination and other harmful practices against more than 31 million persons with disabilities in Nigeria was brought to an end.

"As part of the efforts to evaluate the extent of the implementation of the Act by State institutions, CCD is organizing the 4th Anniversary of the passage of the Act. The one-week event would be held in Abuja. The theme of the anniversary is “2023 General Elections and Beyond: Creating The Future We Desire for Citizens with Disabilities”. The primary objective of the anniversary is to brainstorm with State and non-State institutions on their roles and responsibilities for full compliance with the provisions of the Disability Act."

While commending the passage of different versions of the disability laws at the subnational levels, he appreciated the following States  North Central (Kogi, Kwara, Nasarawa, Niger, and Plateau States), Northeast (Bauchi State), Northwest (Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Sokoto and Zamfara States), Southeast (Abia, and Anambra States), Southsouth (Cross River, and Edo States) and Southwest (Ekiti, Lagos, Ondo, and Oyo States) for the compliance.

CCD is the premier organization of, and for persons with disabilities that works to promote disability rights, independent living, inclusion, and participation of persons with disabilities in development agenda. CCD coordinated CSOs successful campaign which led to the passage of the Disability Act.