Kalu seeks review of Disability Act, 5% employment quota for PWDs

…as architects call for total compliance with accessibility laws into public buildings

By Tom Okpe

Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rep Benjamin Okezie Kalu has called for the amendment of Disability Act to provide for at least, 5 % quota of employment for People Living with Disabilities, (PWDs).

He also, reiterated parliament’s readiness to evaluate suggestion that 10% of all social intervention projects of Ministries, Departments and Agencies, (MDAs) of Government should be dedicated to the welfare of PWDs even as he accepted to special request of becoming face of the people.

This, emanated from a courtesy call, paid on the Deputy Speaker by the trio of the Nigerian Institute of Architects; Chairman, Accelerate Disability in Emergencies Forum, Agbo Christian Obiora and Chief Executive Officer of TAF Africa, Jake Epelle who also pleaded for protection and welfare of PWDs, over the weekend in Abuja.

Kalu said “I am pledging that we are going to support and champion compliance of at least, 5% quota of employments for PWDs.

“Also support inclusion of PWDs into a joint board of FAAN, Federal Government Agencies and related bodies to include your views in the ways that things are done on the table of decision making.

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“So, you can take home that we are going to review the Disability Act, as well as every law that has to do with your space.

“Talking about disability, I think there is a need for us to also look at that particular Act and see, if there is a way to amend it to include 10% quota for public infrastructures.

“As the Deputy Speaker of the House, I have listened to your interventions, especially with already existing laws and also the upcoming bills.

“You are comfortable with the existing laws only to the extent of their effective compliance. It is your take that we are not complying with these laws as it is supposed to be, because you are not on the table.

“So, periodic appraisal of these laws to be able to point out holes and gaps that need to be filled, becomes a necessity as a good instrument for the legislature as well as the executive because the executive is executing and we are legislating.

“We cannot keep on legislating from one legislation to another without knowing how far the ones we legislated have been executed, in compliance.

“The Office of the Deputy Speaker, we are open and will remain open to people with disability and have accepted to be the face.

“I have accepted to be the face of the disabled people. If you are looking for an ambassador of disabled people in Nigeria, people with disability, you can count on my fine face.

“This is because, this face represents the beauty of your mind, the content of your character and what you are going to bring on board.”

Earlier in her presentation, President of Nigerian Institute of Architects, Arc Mobolaji Adeniyi expressed gratitude to the National Assembly for the PWDs Act 2018 which she said recognized the need for all buildings in Nigeria to address the accessibility needs of PWDs.

“While this law has been in effect, compliance has been below expectation. In area of approval to new buildings, it’s important that the necessary compliance certificates issued by architects are stipulated in the laws.

“It’s very important, this gives necessary instruments, backing of law and make them more potent. Not only will compliance increase, the quality of implementation will be improved,” she said.

Similarly, Chairman, Accelerate Disability in Emergencies Forum, Agbo Christian Obiora who spoke on behalf of PWDs said; “We, the PWDs seek your support to sponsor an amendment to PWDs act to make it compulsory that 10% percent of all social intervention projects of MDAs, be dedicated to the welfare of people living with disability.

“We want your colleagues to ensure that the Federal Government introduce affordable transportation system that’s accessible for persons with disabilities.”

On his part, the CEO of TAF, Africa, Jake Epelle who is a disability inclusion champion said that he would love the Deputy Speaker, to become, face of persons living with disability.

He added that, “With ongoing constitution amendment, we need one holistic bill that you can sponsor so that, at the end of the review, we have a PWDs friendly legislation.”