Senate Passes Law to Curb Abuse Against People with Disabilities

 

The Senate today (Wednesday, July 13th, 2016) passed for its third and final reading the ‘Discrimination Against Persons With Disabilities (Prohibition) Bill (2016) (SB 22).’

Taking to his social media pages to comment on the development, the Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki stated that the bill is highly important as it seeks to curb the abuse in all forms of Nigerians with disabilities.

The Senate President also stated that the bill would promote the respect of the rights of all Nigerians with disabilities.

“Many of you will remember that earlier this year, when I met with the leaders of the Centre for Citizens with Disabilities,” Saraki said, “I promised that the Senate would work on examining ways to strengthen our laws for people with disabilities.”

Saraki, who is a medical doctor by profession, emphasised that with the Senate’s passage of the Discrimination Against Persons With Disabilities (Prohibition) Bill, he was hopeful that the National Assembly would finally break the jinx by getting the bill passed in both Houses and signed into law by President Muhammadu Buhari.

Many will recall that similar bills seeking to protect the rights of people with disabilities failed to get signed into law during the 6 (2007 to 2011) and 7th (2011 to 2015) Assemblies.