By Chioma Obinna

Persons living with disabilities have called on the Federal Government on the provision of national disability legislation that would guarantee the rights of the estimated 22 million Nigerians with various disabilities.

They argued that with a population that is above several African countries, it is incomprehensible to thinks that there is no legal or policy framework to mainstream such persons into the policy.

Speaking at a media training workshop on for the international   Conference on Disabilities with the theme: “Improving Access and Building Capacity” which began yesterday in Lagos, Director, Anglo –Nigeria Association for the Blind, ANWARD, Danlami Basharu noted that despite Nigeria’s ratification of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons, UNCRPD, with Disabilities, it is yet to have in place such local legislation.

•Cross section of Persons with disabilities at the Lady Atinuke Oyindamola Memorial Home, Araromi, Badagry, Lagos State.

Basharu posited that despite erstwhile President, Goodluck Jonathan statement at the 66th session of the UN General Assembly in New York that the country would continue to accord the highest priority to human rights issues, the dignity and inalienable rights of persons with disabilities are being violated on a daily basis in Nigeria.

According to him, “It is only clear national Legislation on the rights of people with disabilities that will correct this malaise.”

Continuing, Basharu who was the former President, Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities, JONAPWD, noted that lesser African countries like Ghana, Uganda, Rwanda and Kenya than Nigeria already have their own national disability legislations.

“These countries have realised that bringing persons with disabilities into the mainstream of society will greatly eradicate poverty among the poorest of the poor.

“National legislation on disability will eliminate discrimination, which is not provided for in the 1999 constitution of the federal republic of Nigeria. Persons with disabilities need to be protected against discrimination on the basis of disability in employment, education, shelter and social welfare.”

He argued that the successful achievement of the Millennium Development Goals and Vision 202020 will only be realised with the inclusion of persons with disabilities in economic, political and social development of the nation through legislation and policy.

Basharu also stated that the charity model of dealing with disability issues is no longer tenable, adding that, having policies that would ensure that disability issues become binding legal obligations on government and society such as creating an accessible environment for persons with disabilities to operate and advancing policies that would create equal opportunities as well as enhanced the quality of life of the most impoverished people in society.

“It is important for all marginalised sectors of the society to seek for special provisions that would guarantee their rights such as women, children and persons with disabilities but also to the generality of Nigerians, especially the elderly, vulnerable and pregnant women,” he added.