From Teryima Ajijah, Jos
A legal practitioner, Josiah Longji has said that the law prohibiting discrimination against persons with disabilities PWD enacted January 2019 by President Muhammadu Buhari provides that, whoever discriminate upon anyone that has physical disorder is liable to be Jailed.
Barrister Longji Josiah, stated this at a one day capacity building workshop, organised “Qualitative Magazine” a group advocating for the right of persons with disabilities for the media to be acquainted with disability rights and the use of terminologies while reporting their activities.
Barrister Longji Josiah, who is a practicing lawyer and member, association of lawyers with disabilities in Nigeria (ALDIN) in a paper presentation revealed that the society do not respect the rights of persons with disabilities PWD.
“A person who contravenes subsection (1) comments an offence and is liable on conviction to a minimal damage of a minimum of 250,000 payable to the effected persons with disabilities.”
The legal practitioner also who is an amputee revealed that punishment awaits those who construct public buildings without the considerations of persons with disabilities PWD shall be held responsible, and it attract a fine.
According to Bar Longji, the transition law against building public structures without considerations of PWD shall face wrath of the law. The said law takes effect from year 2014.
The same law suggest that persons with disabilities in Nigeria should be given free education at the primary and secondary level.
He also said the January 2019 disabilities Act against persons with disabilities has directed that public employment must at least provide provision for 5 percent of employment for persons with disabilities included in there workforce.
Bar Longji tasked federal ministry of information to begin public enlightenment on construction and reconstruction of public buildings to accommodate accessibility into offices.
Earlier, Chief executive officer CEO of the Qualitative Magazine, Agugu Christian Obiora, who is the convener of the workshop in a welcome address said lack of consideration for persons with disabilities had hamper their performance in economic development.
Mr. Obiora is person on wheelchair, disclosed that persons living with disabilities are more than 30 million in Nigeria.
According to him, the number is on increase due to continue violence leading to amputation of legs and hands of people.
He said they are poorest of poor among Nigerians.
He beg the media to always use right terminologies while reporting their activities.
“Rather than refer to someone as a crippled, such person should be refer to as someone who uses crutches or wheelchair.”
“Someone who is blind should be refer to as visual impaired person.”
Another facilitator, a visually impaired person Joshua Yenle, who is a radio presenter in a lecture said the use of wrong description of persons with disabilities was diminishing of their humanity
People who discriminate against persons with disability risk imprisonment – Lawyer
