Delta Assembly passes Disability Rights Bill

The Delta House of Assembly on Tuesday passed the State Disability Rights Bill.

This followed the adoption of the report of the House Joint  Committee on Housing, Women Affairs/Girl Child  Entrepreneurship and Humanitarian Support Services and Special Committee at plenary in Asaba.

Presenting the report, the Chairman of the Committee, Mrs Bridget Anyafulu, (PDP-Osnimili South) said that the bill sought to safeguard people living with disabilities against all forms of discrimination in the society.

She also said that bill would ensure that persons living with disabilities have equal rights to sue any individual, corporate body or government and its agencies for damages in the event of the violation of their fundamental rights.

Anyafulu also said that the bill would ensure that persons living with disabilities were not subjected to medical or scientific experiment without their consent.

“Persons living with disabilities shall have the right and necessary facilities to access the physical environment, public buildings and public places on an equal basis with others.

”They will also have the right of access/accessibility aids, special seats in vehicles, reservations at public parking lots, right to education and right to work on equal basis with others.

”It will also give  opportunity for persons living with disabilities to participate in polities and public life among others,” she said.

Anyafula added that the passage of the bill would give the state the legal framework to establish a commission for persons living with disabilities.

Consequently, the bill which was considered at the Committee of the whole, under the Chairmanship of the Speaker, Mr Dennis Guwor was passed

The speaker commended the lawmakers for the speedy passage of the bill.

”I thank you all for your time and contributions towards the passage of the bill. The importance of this bill cannot be over-emphasised,” he said. (