Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) tackles the National Assembly over non-compliance with the law mandating accessibility to public buildings
There was mild drama at the House of Representatives during a public hearing when Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) raised concerns over the National Assembly’s non-compliance with the Disability Act of 2018. The Act mandates public institutions to incorporate accessibility features, such as parking spaces and facilities, in their building designs.
This concern was voiced on Monday during a public hearing organized by the House committee on disability matters. The session focused on investigating the compliance of Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) with the Discrimination Against Persons With Disabilities (Prohibition) Act of 2018.
The incident unfolded when the Executive Secretary of the National Commission for Persons With Disabilities (NCPWD), Mr. Ayuba Gufwan, who uses a wheelchair, was taken to the restroom. Upon his return, Mr. Akorede Adebowale, President of the Association of Spouses of Persons with Disabilities in Nigeria, took the microphone and voiced his frustration.
Adebowale called on the National Assembly to lead by example in implementing accessibility measures in public and private buildings, starting with their own facilities.
“I escorted the executive secretary to the restroom, and I noticed that it was not accessible. Charity begins at home. We must ensure total accessibility, including conveniences, parking lots, and other essential facilities,” Adebowale said.
Mr. Adebowale also urged the National Assembly to ensure that all persons with disabilities have seamless access to facilities.
“I challenge the committee on disability matters to make the National Assembly a model for inclusion, especially when it comes to accessibility for PWDs. Members of this committee should be disability champions and begin overseeing the compliance of MDAs related to access and advocate for a disability-friendly budgeting system,” he added.
Speaking earlier, Mr. Gufwan expressed appreciation to the National Assembly for its efforts to implement the 2018 PWDs Act. However, he stressed the need for continued attention to the welfare of the country’s 35.5 million PWDs.
“There has been a very low level of compliance with the Discrimination Against PWDs Prohibition Act of 2018 across all sectors. The NCPWD has developed National Accessibility Regulations, but these have not been widely disseminated among MDAs and stakeholders, leading to poor physical and digital accessibility for PWDs,” Gufwan said.
He noted that many MDAs lack the technical capacity to incorporate disability inclusion into their operations and emphasized that the NCPWD has not yet developed sector-specific training modules to assist them. Gufwan also advocated for political participation of PWDs as provided for in sections 28, 29, and 30 of the Act and called for provisions to protect women and girls with disabilities.
“The Act needs to be reviewed to address the specific needs of women and girls with disabilities, as it is not currently gender-sensitive,” he added.
In his opening remarks, committee chairman, Rep. Bashiru Dawodu (APC, Lagos) explained that the investigative hearing was aimed at gathering input from stakeholders to enable effective oversight of MDAs.
“This hearing fulfills our duty to oversee the MDAs, following the House resolution HR07/02/2024. The Disability Act provides for the protection of the rights and welfare of PWDs. This inquiry will assess accessibility, employment, and disability inclusion in policies, programs, and projects of the MDAs,” Dawodu stated.
