NBA Urges States To Fast-Track Domestication Of Disability Law
The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Lawyers with Disabilities Forum has called on state governments to expedite the domestication of the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act, emphasising the urgent need to protect the rights of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) across the country.
Speaking at a summit in Maiduguri, Borno State, members of the group stressed that implementing the law at the state level would ensure inclusion and equal opportunities for PWDs in public policies, programs, and governance.
The Disability Act, signed into law in 2019 by former President Muhammadu Buhari, was designed to eliminate discrimination, provide accessibility, and establish legal protection for PWDs. While all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) were expected to adopt and implement the legislation, only 19 states have done so, leaving 17 states yet to comply.
The NBA group urged governments at all levels to prioritize disability rights by domesticating the law and setting up state disability commissions to oversee its implementation.
