By Amaka Abayomi

LAGOS—Experts and members of the Local Organising Committee of the recently held International Conference on Disabilities have called on the Federal Government to speedily assent to the Nigerian Disability Bill.

They also called on leaders of member states of the African Union to pass national legislation on disabilities in their countries for the advancement of Persons With Disabilities, PWD.

Stressing the urgent need for member states of the African Union to craft and implement policies on disabilities that are linked and cross cutting in health, education, employment, social welfare and entrepreneurship, the LOC Chairperson. Mr. Ani Bassey-Eyo, said that the time was right for government legislations and policies be fully inclusive of PWD.

He said: “Government should establish a national Disability Trust Fund to cushion the effects of disability while tax concessions are made for disability-inclusive businesses and organisations. Government should develop a national policy for inclusive education and all examination bodies should provide reasonable accommodation to enable PWD fully participate in all examinations.”

“In the area of employment and entrepreneurship, we call on employers to make reasonable accommodation in the recruitment and employment processes of PWD, including those whose ability may become impaired in the line of duty. Also, corporate employers should fully comply with the statutory obligations under the Corporate and Allied Matters Act with reference to reporting on the number of PWD in their employ.”

Also, a member of the Committee of Experts, United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons With Disability, Mr. Danlami Basharu, said Nigeria is always one of the first countries to ratify most UN’s convention which she hardly implements.

He called on the Federal Government to urgently convene a national disability stakeholders forum towards developing an all-inclusive national disability policy and legislation