The House of Representatives Committee on Persons With Disabilities has affirmed its commitment to the complete implementation of the Persons With Disabilities (PWD) Act, aimed at fostering a sense of inclusion for those protected by the legislation.
During a meeting with children living with disabilities, Chairman of the Committee and member of the All Progressives Congress from Lagos State, Bashiru Dawodu, made this pledge under the theme ‘Every Child, Every Right.’ Dawodu conveyed that legislative measures are underway to penalize discrimination against PWDs nationwide.
“I am pleased to announce that the process to re-enact the PWD Act is already underway in the House. Stakeholders’ input will be gathered during the public hearing, and the Committee is committed to ensuring the full enforcement of the PWD Act. The laws of the land must be implemented,” he asserted. “Furthermore, we will ensure that 5 per cent of all employment in the country is reserved for PWD.”
Dawodu also highlighted that the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, has granted approval for the use of sign language in the chambers to facilitate effective communication with PWDs who wish to stay informed about proceedings in the Green Chamber.
Earlier, members of the PWD community in Abuja urged the National Assembly to amend pertinent laws to safeguard children with disabilities nationwide. Constance Onyemeachi, Executive Director of Women and Girls with Albinism Network, expressed concerns about the vulnerability of children with albinism to rape and trafficking.
“There is a child with albinism in an orphanage in Kuje Area Council whose parents are still alive, but the community wanted to harm the child, forcing the parents to send her to the orphanage. She cannot return home simply because she was born with albinism,” she disclosed.
PWD advocate Mr. Itodo Yusuf, a lawyer, emphasized the critical role of law and its effective implementation in protecting rights. Yusuf observed a deficiency in the clear delineation of the rights of children with disabilities in the existing legal framework.
“Section 16 of the Child’s Rights Act addresses special measures for children with special needs. However, the limitation on funding in Sub-section 2 poses a significant challenge for us. We need to revisit this provision, particularly to remove funding limitations, as resources are available to cater to all children, including those with disabilities,” he asserted.