Pressure mounts on FG to implement Disability Rights Act

The Disability Rights Advocacy Center (DRAC) has called on the federal government to implement the Disability Act signed into law by President Muhammadu Buhari in January.
        DRAC, in a breakfast meeting held on November 27 presented the reality of gender-based violence and discrimination faced by persons living with disability in a short film and urged the federal government to implement the Disability Act in order to protect and cater to the needs of persons living with disability in Nigeria. The Act provides full integration of persons living with disability into society and establishes a national commission for persons living with disability with responsibility of providing welfare and development for the otherwise vulnerable group. However, after nine years of relentless advocacy in trying to get the Disability Act signed into law and almost a year after its passing, it is yet to be implemented. The none implementation of the Act hinders the creation of a national commission dedicated to providing welfare, education and development for persons living with disability as stated in the Act. It also impedes on the full integration of persons living with disability into society. DRAC has also called on Nigerians to develop a healthy perception of persons living with disability and uphold a none-discriminatory attitude. While speaking to the press, executive director of DRAC, Irene Patrick-Ogbogu urged the federal government to implement the Disability Act. She also expressed the desire for a better society in which stereotypes of persons living with disability are expunged and empowering depictions of the group are largely adopted. “The federal government should implement the Disability Act it signed into law since the start of the year.

Related News

500
Leave a comment...