DISCRIMINATION AGAINST PERSON WITH DISABILITIES ACT

An Act prohibits discrimination against persons with disabilities and guarantees their equal rights in public life. It mandates that all public and private institutions provide accessible facilities, services, and opportunities. The law aims to fully integrate persons with disabilities into education, employment, and society.

What Is This Policy?

The Act is Nigeria’s primary legislation prohibiting discrimination against persons with disabilities. It guarantees equal rights in education, healthcare, employment, and public life, while mandating accessibility in physical structures, transportation, and services.

Who Does It Target?

The Act is directed at persons with disabilities, ensuring they are fully integrated into society and protected from discrimination. It also targets public and private institutions, requiring them to provide accessible facilities, services, and opportunities.

What Does It Aim to Achieve?

The central objective of the Act is to guarantee equal rights and opportunities for persons with disabilities. It seeks to dismantle barriers that prevent their participation in education, employment, politics, and social life.

Key Features

Prohibition of discrimination in employment, education, and public services. Accessibility requirements for buildings, roads, sidewalks, and vehicles. Transitory period of 5 years for institutions to comply with accessibility standards. Establishment of NCPWD to oversee implementation. Penalties for violations, including fines and imprisonment. Awareness programmes to combat stigma and promote inclusion.

Current Status

Rollout Stage: active implementation Coverage: applies nationwide Beneficiaries to Date:  Nigeria has an estimated 25 million persons with disabilities; the Act is designed to protect and empower them. Funding: Federal Government allocations, supplemented by donor and NGO support.

How to Access

Official text published in the Federal Government Gazette (2019). Available via: National Commission for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD) website. Center for Laws of Nigeria and other legal repositories.

Important Terms

Accessibility: The right of persons with disabilities to enter, use, and benefit from public spaces, buildings, and services. Transitory Period: A grace period (5 years) given to institutions to make their facilities disability-friendly.

Official Resources

National Commission for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD): https://ncpwd.gov.ng Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development: https://fmhds.gov.ng Contact: [email protected] Link to document - Link to document

Legal Framework

Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (Section 42, freedom from discrimination); UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD); African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights; National Commission for Persons with Disabilities Act