Allocate 10% Appointive Positions To Persons With Disabilities

The House of Representatives has urged President Bola Tinubu to allocate 10% of appointive positions for persons with disabilities in the country.

The resolution was passed sequel to the adoption of a motion seeking to ensure that Mr. President enforces the provision of the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act, 2018, as sponsored by member representating Kosofe Federal Constitency of Lagos State, Kafilat Ogbara.

In her Lead debate, the lawmaker who expressed concern over living condition of persons with Disabilities across the country, explained that the Act, was enacted into law in 2018 with a view to ensure that the rights of disabled persons in Nigeria were safeguarded.

She drew the attention of the House to Section 6 of the Act which provides that from the commencement of the Act, there shall be a transitory period of five years within which all public buildings and structures, whether immovable, movable or automobile, which were inaccessible to persons with disabilities shall be modified to be accessible and usable by persons with disabilities including those on wheelchairs and that Section 29 of the Act provides that all employers of labour in public organisations shall, as much as possible, have persons with disabilities constituting at least 5% of their employment.

Ogbara noted that the five years transitory period provided under Section 6 of the Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act, 2018 has elapsed, hence the need for full implementation of the Act.

“The House is concerned that like every human being, people with disabilities have fundamental human rights and it is the duty of the government to ensure that these rights are respected, protected and fulfilled,” she noted.

The House also tasked the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume to direct the Head of Service of the Federation and Federal Ministries, Departments and Agencies of Governments to adhere strictly to the provisions of Section 29 of the Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act, 2018, by providing 10% of jobs available for the physically challenged persons in Nigeria;

The House further urged all relevant security agencies to commence full enforcement of the provisions of the aforesaid Act.

In her remarks, Another Lawmaker Beni Lar urged the joint Committees (when constituted) to ensure the percentage of employment opportunities reserved for people with disabilities during employment processes as captured in the Act is not flaunted.

On his part, Rotimi Oluwaseun tasked the SGF to establish an inter-Ministerial Task Force to ensure the status of the Act is fully adhered to and that the deadline of the transitional law is met.

To this end, the House mandated the joint Committees on Human Rights, Public Service, Disabilities and Legislative Compliance (when constituted) to ensure implementation.

Oduyemi Odumade, Edited By Grace Namiji