Disability is a physical or mental impairment that is perceived to limit
\none or more major life activities of an impaired person. While this
\nappears a direct definition, Nigerians have ascribed various definitions
\nto disability in different terms, concluding that persons with
\ndisabilities are abnormal persons who are offered mainly medical and
\ncharity gestures.<\/p>\n
Over the years, persons with disability in Nigeria have been marginalized
\nin all spheres. These discriminating tendencies have deprived them of the
\nbasic opportunities entitled to every citizen thereby infringing their
\nfundamental human rights.<\/p>\n
As victims of negligence, this category of people have gained global
\nattention constituting a social group that is vulnerable to societal
\ndiscrimination. Yet this has only compounded their tormenting
\nexperiences\u200e.<\/p>\n
They are generally dispossessed of physical structures, employment
\nopportunities, and leadership positions, improved educational facilities
\nresulting to socio-political inequality, social stigmatization, and high
\nlevel of illiteracy, open discrimination, insecurity, and exclusiveness
\nresulting to high dependency on others without disability.<\/p>\n
There have been cases of Nigerians deprived of employment opportunities,
\nadmission into schools, getting political appointments, etc. because of
\ntheir disabilities with a confirmed report stating that Persons with
\ndisabilities constitute only about 3% of the work force.<\/p>\n
According to a report of the National Baseline Survey on Persons with
\nDisabilities (PWDs) in Nigeria, 50% of PWDs had no schooling whatsoever
\nand the use of necessary assistive devices by PWDs was limited and
\ninadequate, consisting mostly of walking sticks, crutches, braces,
\nwalkers, and hearing aids. The main sources of assistive devices for PWDs
\nacross the nation were family, friends and PWDs themselves. Begging for
\nalms was the most prominent source of their subsistence.<\/p>\n
World Health Organization reports that over 20 million Nigerians are
\nliving with disability which makes them the largest minority group in the
\nnation.<\/p>\n
The Disability Bill seeking to provide succor to PWDs in Nigeria has been
\nfaced with a yoke of assent such that it has failed to be accented in two
\nsuccessive administrations after passage in the 6th and 7th assembly. This
\nonly goes to show the level of commitment to the plights of PWDs.<\/p>\n
Both the Senate and the House of Representatives in the previous
\nassemblies have showed consideration by passing this bill in accord for
\nthe executive to assent.<\/p>\n
As enshrined in the Fundamental Rights provisions of Chapter IV of the
\nConstitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, as amended in
\nJanuary, 2011.\u200e \u2018\u2018Every Nigerian citizen is entitled to be conferred with
\nequality of rights, obligations and\u200e Opportunities before the law, the
\nrecognition of the sanctity of the human life and the maintenance and
\nenhancement of human dignity\u2019\u2019.<\/p>\n
Many developing countries in the world are availed with inclusive
\ndisability rights legislation and policy regimes where disabled people are
\ninvolved at all levels in the society and not left as odds and tools for
\ncharity.<\/p>\n
Unfortunately, this bill has often been compared to the petroleum industry
\nbill, PIB that has remained with the national assembly since the 6th
\nassembly and yet its significance if passed cannot be over emphasized.\u200e<\/p>\n
The 6th National Assembly passed this bill on the 28th of September 2010;
\na lot of bills have been prioritized above bills like this, in a
\ngovernment that preaches full inclusiveness of the masses, the idea of
\nhumanity first is not inclusive of disabled Nigerians, they are seen as
\ndisabled first before human beings.<\/p>\n
More often than not, policies to take beggars off the street have gained
\nmuch attention because they constitute nuisance such that it has become a
\nnightmare for state governors in the case of Kaduna State. A major
\noccupation of PWD is alms begging how then do the government want to get
\nthem off the streets without a law that allows their rights to be upheld?<\/p>\n
It is pertinent to note that, anyone could be disabled either naturally
\ncongenitally through unforeseen causes, accident or as one goes into old
\nage.<\/p>\n
Emphatically, 7th National Assembly on January 30th 2015 barely six months
\nto the end of the assembly harmonized and sent the bill defending the
\nrights of Persons with Disabilities for presidential assent that proved
\nabortive.<\/p>\n
On the 12th of July 2016 the 8th Senate passed the same bill for final
\nreading; however with the travails of persons with disability and the
\nburden of assent by previous administration, the timely passage of this
\nbill has again awoken the wishes of PWDs whose greatest desire is for this
\nbill to finally become law and ensure their full integration into the
\nlarger society.<\/p>\n
\u2018\u2018With what the 8th Senate has done today by passing this bill for its
\nthird and final time in the Red Chamber, it is my hope that this National
\nAssembly can finally break this jinx by getting it passed by the House of
\nRepresentatives and assented into law by Mr. President\u201d Senate president,
\nBukola Saraki stated shortly after the passage.<\/p>\n
This hope means everything to over 22milliion disabled Nigerians whose
\nbelieve their ability has been dashed and relegated as victims of
\nnegligence and an apparatus of charity. This bill for its worth seeks to
\nprovide for the establishment of a National Commission for persons with
\ndisability to cater for their education, health care while protecting
\ntheir social economic and civil rights. It will also check and outlaw all
\nforms of discrimination against them and put in place measures that will
\naddress their condition.<\/p>\n
Disability is not Inability and there is ability in every disability in
\nthe words of Khang Kijaro Nguyen \u201cAble does not mean enabled. Disabled
\ndoes not mean less able.\u201d<\/p>\n
Kind Regards,<\/p>\n
CYNTHIA FERDINAND U.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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