From Ndubuisi Orji, Abuja
Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Disabilities, Bashiru Dawodu, has promised to ensure the full implementation of the Persons With Disabilities ( PWD) Act.
Dawodu, who made the pledge, on Monday, at a stakeholders meeting, said the House will also work towards the review of the Act, to prescribe stiffer penalties for defaulters.
According to him, there are a lot lacuna in the PWD Act, such that amendment to the law will not cure the defects. Consequently, the House is working towards a repeal and re-enactment of the Act.
The lawmaker stated that the parliament would work to ensure that five percent of employments in the country are reserved for PWDs, noting that the Child’s Right Act needed to be amended to include the concerns raised by stakeholders.
He said “I want to announce to you that the process to re-enact the PWD Act is already is already ongoing in the house.
The input of stakeholders will be collated at the public hearing; the committee will ensure full enforcement of PWD Act, the law of the land must be implemented.
“We will ensure that any employment
made in this country, 5 per cent must be reserved for PWD. ”
Earlier, stakeholders called on the parliament to amend relevant laws to protect children with disabilities in the country.
Executive Director, Women and Girls with Albinism Network, Ms Constance Onyemeachi expressed concerns that children with albinism are first targets for rape and child trafficking.
Onyemeachi said this is because of the myths and superstition surrounding albinism as a genetic condition.