The disability Bill scaled sending reading in Senate Wednesday.
The Bill sponsored by Senator Francis Alimikhena (Edo North) seeks to
ensure full integration of persons with disability into the larger society.
It made provision for the education, health care and protection of the
social, economic and civil rights of persons with disability.
Alimikhena in his lead debate quoted Section 14(2)(b) of the Constitution
which provides that “the security and welfare of the people shall be the
primary purpose of government.
He noted that disability abounds everywhere, from north to south and from
west to east.
The lawmaker said that the bitter truth is that the Senate cannot afford to
be disinterested in the matter because disability may occur at any time in
a man’s life either congenitally, through accident or even by natural
development as one attains old age.
He asked the Senate to commend the efforts of the 6 and 7 National
Assembly which culminated in the passage of the disability Bill but
unfortunately did not receive presidential assent.
He said that passage of the Bill is the surest and most potent way of
ensuring compliance with international best practices in the treatment and
relation with persons living with disability.
Alimikhena who quoted the World Health Organisation, said that 20 million
Nigerians are living with disability which makes them the largest minority
group in the country.
He said, “They have the highest rate of unemployment, poverty and have
the lowest level of educaeducationaltion among any minority group.