Buhari Finally Signs Disability Bill into Law

By Modupe Gbadeyanka

A law making it unlawful for anyone or organisation to discriminate against persons living with disability in Nigeria has been signed into law.

The bill was assented to by President Muhammadu Buhari a week after he was challenged at a town hall meeting for not signing the document into law.

In a statement today, his aide on National Assembly, Mr Ita Enang, said the President assented to the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act, 2018 to guarantees the right to maintain civil action for damage by the person injured against any defaulter.

According to him, act prohibits all forms of discrimination on the grounds of disability, with a fine of N1 million imposed on corporate bodies and N100,000 on individuals or a term of six months imprisonment for violation.

He said the act also 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.

“Before erecting any public structure, its plan shall be scrutinised by the relevant authorities 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.

“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 President’s aide said.

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 five percent of employment opportunities for these persons.

“The National Commission for Persons with Disabilities is also established in Section 31 with an executive secretary as the head,” Mr Enang stated.