Ms Dorothy Njemanze, Founder, Dorothy Njemanze Foundation, has commended President Muhammadu Buhari for signing into law the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Bill of 2018.
She gave the commendation in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Abuja.
According to Njemanze, the signing of the Bill into law is a welcome development as it will provide opportunities for persons with disabilities to effectively participate in the society.
“I feel the forthcoming elections played a huge role in getting the bill assented to but at least it is a better development than the last administration that dashed our hope.
READ ALSO: NWFL: Dickson congratulates Bayelsa Queens
“This Act will provide a framework for addressing issues related to protecting their rights as it will allow them have access to everything everyone else in the society has access to.
“Employment of these persons will now be more deliberate, also public buildings must now be built in consideration of them.
“What we do not understand is that, every human is bound to be disabled at any point in life, be it impairment in vision, hearing, mobility or mental health.
“No human should be discriminated against,” she said.
NAN reports that President Buhari signed the bill into law on January 24 and it prohibits all forms of discrimination on the basis of disabilities, including refusal for employment on the basis of their status.
The Act also compels a fine of N1,000,000 for corporate bodies and N100,000 for individuals or a term of six months imprisonment for violation or both. (NAN)
