BY VICTOR BUORO, ABUJA – President Muhammadu Buhari has finally signed into law the bill criminalising common discriminations against persons with disabilities in the country.
According to the Senior Special Assistant to the President, National Assembly liaison (Senate), Senator Ita Enang, the Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act will have corporate entities and individuals face severe sanctions if found guilty of discriminating against persons with impairments.
Senator Ita Enang, who announced the presidential assent on Wednesday night, said; “This Act prohibits all forms of discrimination on ground of disability and imposes fine of N1,000,000 for corporate bodies and N100,000 for individuals or a term of six months imprisonment for violation concurrently.”
Senator Ita-Enang further explained the Act “guarantees right to maintain civil action for damage by the person injured against any defaulter.
“It provides for a five-year transitional period within which public buildings, structures or automobile are to be modified to be accessible to and usable by persons with disabilities, including those on wheelchairs.”
The Presidential aide said other key elements of the new law are: “Before erecting any public structure, its plan shall be scrutinised by the relevant authority to ensure that the plan conforms with the building code;
“A government or government agency, body or individual responsible for the approval of building plans shall not approve the plan of a public building if the plan does not make provision for accessibility facilities in line with the building code; and
“An officer who approves or directs the approval of a building plan that contravenes the building code, commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine of at least N1, 000, 000 or a term of imprisonment of two years or both.”
The new Act also states that; “Discrimination is prohibited in public transportation facilities and service providers are to make provision for the physically, visually and hearing impaired and all persons howsoever challenged. This applies to Seaports, Railways and Airport facilities;
“The rights and privileges include: education, healthcare, priority in accommodation and emergencies. Furthermore, all public organisations are to reserve at least 5% of employment opportunities for these persons.”
Similarly, “The National Commission for Persons with Disabilities is also established in Section 31 with Executive Secretary as the head”, Senator Ita-Enang said
The announcement is coming just days after President Buhari accused the National Assembly (NASS) of not passing the bill at the Town Hall, ‘The Candidates’ where he featured with Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo.
However, rejecting the claims, the lawmakers said the law was passed in 2018 and sent to the President for assent with, a document making the rounds on social media to indicate the State House’s acknowledgement of receiving the contentious document.
Already, anti-defamation campaigners, who hitherto accused the government of paying lip service to the plight of citizens with disabilities, are excited about the presidential assent.
Speaking to Premium Times on Wednesday night, a development and disability inclusion expert, Razak Adekoya, said “President Buhari has written his name in gold by assenting to this bill.”
According to him, “Former President Olusegun Obasanjo failed to sign the law when National Assembly passed it under him, saying it would have serious cost implications for the country,”
He also noted that; “Former President Goodluck Jonathan also raised some objections about the bill when lawmakers again passed it under him.”
“We are grateful now that those with some forms of disabilities now have a sense of belonging going forward,” an elated Adekoya said
