By Lanre Oloyede
Demonstrating a strong commitment to implementing Nigeria’s National Disability Act, Hon. Mohammed Abba Isa, the Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Special Needs and Equal Opportunities, Tuesday inaugurated a pivotal Inter-Ministerial/Inter-Agency Committee on Disability Inclusion.
The committee’s mandate is to drive the effective implementation of the Discrimination Against Persons With Disabilities (Prohibition) Act 2018 across all Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), with strict oversight on accessibility and inclusion standards.
The inauguration took place at the Inter-Ministerial and Inter-Agency Disability Rights Awareness Summit, held at the State House Auditorium, Aso Villa, Abuja. Supported by a grant from the MacArthur Foundation.
The summit brought together government officials, advocates, and leaders from various sectors, united to accelerate the Act’s enforcement and ensure compliance, with the promise of sanctions for defaulting agencies.
Recall that upon assumption of office, Hon. Abba Isa, buoyed by the mandate and marching order of Mr President to proactively ensure that disability requirements and perspectives are integrated into the policies, plans, and programs of all Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) had promised to set up a presidential task team to ensure implementation of this law.
Core Responsibilities of the Committee
Chaired by the Special Needs Department of the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, with the SSA’s office as its Secretariat, the composition of the committee is made up of capable representatives nominated by each MDAs.
The committee is tasked with transformative responsibilities, including:
1. Accessibility Audit: Conduct comprehensive accessibility audits of its facilities including assessing buildings for necessary modifications like ramps, railings, Braille signage, elevators, accessible restrooms and audio guides where applicable. The audit will also include digital accessibility ensuring online services and digital communications such as Websites, portals, and online resources are accessible and with accessibility standards such as WCAG (Web Content ty Guidelines), including features like screen reader compatibility and alternative text for images to facilitate use by visually impaired individuals.
2 Inclusive Policy Implementation and Training: Work with relevant Organisations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs) to establish disability-inclusive policies _ prioritizing accessibility and train staff on disability inclusion and etiquette towards ensuring that all interactions and services provided are inclusive.
3. Disability Awareness-raising: Work with relevant stakeholders to raise awareness within their premises and the public about the rights of people with disabilities, helping to highlight the imperative of accessibility and encourage compliance across other public institutions.
4. Develop Implementation Plan: Develop comprehensive implementation plan, including an invisible budgetary plan, to ensure full implementation of the Disability Act in the needs of the MDA as identified through structural and policy accessibility audits. For instance, for any facility that does not meet accessibility standards, especially the Persons with Disabilities (Accessibility) Regulation, a phased modification plan will be developed to enhance accessibility for persons with disabilities.
5. Transparency and Accountability: work with relevant government agencies and/or relevant OPDs to implement a system for regular reporting and evaluation of accessibility standards
Commitment to Accountability
In his keynote, SSAP Abba Isa expressed his deep gratitude to President Tinubu for entrusting him with the role of advocating for Persons With Disabilities (PWDs), stressing that his appointment by Mr President is not only a duty but a calling, and he remained committed to working tirelessly to advance the rights, dignity, and opportunities of all PWDs across the nation.
The Senior presidential aide also extended his heartfelt gratitude to the MacArthur Foundation for their support in making this summit possible.
According to him, their grant has empowered his office to convene this gathering of leaders and advocates, while encouraging other development partners to emulate their commitment to this cause.
Hon. Abba Isa also highlighted recent initiatives, including the launch of the Association of Accessibility Professionals, to provide technical expertise to the Committee and MDAs needed for implementing the Disability Act.
The SSAP added that this work is central to the President’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which seeks to uplift all segments of our society, ensuring that no Nigerian is left behind.
He urged all Stakeholders to honor the President’s vision by committing to the full realization of the National Disability Act, stressing that the time has come to move beyond mere intention and to embrace action.
The Presidential aide, at the summit, promised stricter monitoring of MDAs to ensure compliance with provisions of the Act.
He added that henceforth the Office of the SSA to the President on Special Needs and Equal Opportunities will also commence close monitoring of the implementation of the Act across MDAs.
“In addition, we will issue quarterly press statements on the compliance status of each MDA and submit these reports directly to the President. His Excellency has expressed his readiness to hold accountable and sanction any agency that does not adhere to these standards,” he said.
A Call for Broad Stakeholder Commitments
In his presentation, the Director, McArthur Foundation Nigeria, Dr. Kole Shettima, ably represented by Dr. Amina Salihu emphasized the need for stakeholders to committee to heart the tenets and pillars of the Discrimination against Persons With disabilities Prohibition Act, saying it’s only when it is committed to hearts that we will be committed to implementing the Act.
Dr. Salihu also urged MDAs, government buildings, and hotel owners to adhere to accessibility standards, stressing inclusivity in public infrastructure.
Representing the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Dr. Comfort Adeosun, stressed the need for all MDAs and stakeholders to move faster as an organization particularly with regards to recruitment in the civil service to ensure that when recruitments are done, the 5% quota recommended by the Act for PWDs should be adhered to in order to ensure equal employment opportunities.
Government Commitment and Support
Mr. Jatau Kpeno Gbana, representing the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, voiced the Ministry’s dedication to working with all stakeholders to ensure the Act’s provisions improve the lives of PWDs. He affirmed that accessibility and inclusivity remain central priorities in poverty alleviation and social welfare initiatives.
JAMB Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede commended Nigeria’s integration of disability rights into governance, as evidenced by the recently approved National Action Plan (NAP) on Human Rights, which includes protections for PWDs.
Prof. Oloyede highlighted JAMB’s initiatives, such as the Equal Opportunity Group (JEOG), established to provide fair examination conditions for PWD candidates.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio, represented by Senator Mohammed Onawo, acknowledged the Act as a testament to equal opportunity for all Nigerians. He emphasized that the National Assembly remains dedicated to promoting disability rights but called on society at large to embrace the Act’s implementation.
A Summit of Visionary Leaders
The summit provided a valuable platform for leaders, advocates, and government officials to forge new alliances and share strategies for fulfilling the Disability Act’s promise. Among the dignitaries in attendance or ably represented were Vice President Kashim Shettima; Secretary to the Government of the Federation Sen. George Akume; Chief of Staff to the President Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila; Minister of Humanitarian Affairs Dr. Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda; Minister of Information Mohammed Idris Malagi; Head of Service Mrs. Didi Esther Walson-Jack; MacArthur Foundation Nigeria Director Dr. Kole Shettima; and National Commission for Persons with Disabilities Executive Secretary Chief Ayuba Gufwan.
In his opening remarks, Dr. Ahmed Bolori, Strategic Adviser to the SSA, emphasized that “disability or impairment does not define one’s potential.”
He encouraged stakeholders to envision a Nigeria free from discrimination, stressing that everyone is a “potential candidate for disability” and calling for nationwide collaboration on disability inclusion.
The summit concluded with renewed commitments and a shared resolve to advance the rights, dignity, and opportunities for PWDs in Nigeria, honoring both the vision of the National Disability Act and the spirit of inclusivity
