The Nigerian government has been urged to accelerate the implementation of the provisions of the right of the People with disability as provided in the 2019 Disability Act.
Dr. Abubakar Kari of the University of Abuja made the call at the validation of a research report conducted by the Sociology Department of the University of Abuja in collaboration with the Africa Polling Institute to ascertain the “level of implementation of the 2019 Disability Act in north central area of Nigeria.”
Dr. Kari who led the University team in the research said; ”It was conducted ‘to examine the content and extent of government’s social inclusion strategies for persons with disability in Benue, Kogi, Kwara, Nasarawa, Niger, Plateau States and the Federal Capital Territory.”
He said in the conclusions, the research indicated that persons with disabilities in the North Central region of Nigeria were facing inadequate responses to their challenges from all tiers of government.
The Report said; “when quizzed about their greatest challenges as Persons with Disabilities, respondents submitted that Social Inclusion (43%), Lack of Finance (27%), mobility (10%), Discrimination by the public (10%) unemployment (10%), constitute the highest of the challenges.
”Forty-seven percent of the respondents said that they have been denied job opportunities despite being qualified on account of their disability in the country….Nearly all respondents said they do not find it easy navigating public and private facilities as a result of their disabilities. 47% when probed said they found a means where assistive devices were not made available, others (40%) completely submitted that It has been herculean for them moving around private and public facilities.”
The research therefore included in its recommendation;
”That, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, should mandate political parties on affirmative action for persons with disabilities;
”There should be continuous and sustainable advocacy from non-governmental agencies, internal agencies and different associations calling for the passage of the bill and implementation of the act; while asking for international donors and Nigerian government to make passage of Persons with disabilities bill and implementation as part of their conditions for accessing some opportunities.
The validation meeting which held in Abuja, had in attendance people with disabilities and other groups and clusters representing an array of CSO’s that work to provide care for people with disabilities.
The project is funded by the MacArthur Foundation.
Mercy Chukwudiebere
