The National Human Rights Commission has commended President Muhammadu Buhari for signing into law, the Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Bill, 2018.
The commission said in a statement on Thursday in Abuja that the bill was a critical legislation that would guarantee the protection of the rights and dignity of all persons with disabilities in Nigeria.
In the statement signed by Mebrim Uchechukwu, NHRC’s Public Affairs Officer, the Executive Secretary, Mr Tony Ojukwu, praised members of the 8th National Assembly for their thoughtfulness in passing the bill.
Ojukwu asserted that the new law was an answer to several years of discrimination, neglect and abuse of rights of the vulnerable groups who for no just cause live in penury.
According to him, the signing of the bill demonstrates a paradigm shift that will give a new lease of life to persons with disabilities and include them in the nation’s development chart.
He stated, “Though this law is long awaited, it has finally come to correct a lot of anomalies in the living condition of persons with disabilities.
“These groups were seen as persons whose existence was merely hinged on charity, but they can now stand firm and legally claim or seek the enforcement of their rights without encumbrances.”
The Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act will make it possible to punish corporate entities and individuals if found guilty of discriminating against persons with disabilities.
Such discrimination includes refusal to employ such persons on the basis of their state.
The act prohibits all forms of discrimination on the basis of disability.
It stipulates a fine of one million Naira for corporate bodies and N100,000 for individuals or a term of six months imprisonment or both for violation.
The law also enhances the right to healthcare and education of the physically challenged persons among other benefits.