DISCRIMINATION AGAINST PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES (PROHIBITION) ACT, 2018

An Act that prohibits discrimination against persons with disabilities and mandates accessibility in public buildings and facilities. It targets employers, educational institutions, and service providers to ensure equal opportunities. This guarantees rights and inclusion for persons with disabilities in society.

What Is This Policy?

An Act that prohibits all forms of discrimination against persons with disabilities in Nigeria, mandates accessibility in public buildings and facilities, and establishes the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities.

Who Does It Target?

Persons with physical, sensory, intellectual, and psychosocial disabilities Employers, educational institutions, and public service providers Construction developers building public facilities National Commission for Persons with Disabilities

What Does It Aim to Achieve?

Eliminate discrimination against persons with disabilities, guarantee equal rights and opportunities, ensure accessibility of public spaces and services, and promote inclusion in all spheres of Nigerian life.

Key Features

Anti-Discrimination Prohibition: Bans discrimination on grounds of disability in employment, education, healthcare, and public services. Accessibility Requirements: Requires all new public buildings to incorporate accessibility features; mandates retrofit plans for existing buildings within 5 years. National Commission: Establishes the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities (NCPD) to enforce the Act and promote disability rights. Sanctions: Prescribes fines for persons or organisations that discriminate against or fail to provide accessibility for persons with disabilities.

Current Status

Rollout Stage: Active - NCPD established and operational Coverage: Nationwide Beneficiaries: Over 25 million Nigerians estimated to have some form of disability Funding: Federal Government appropriations; 0.5% of annual national budget to disability fund

How to Access

Persons with disabilities may file complaints of discrimination with NCPD or a court Employers with more than 100 employees must ensure 5% of jobs are reserved for persons with disabilities Public buildings must be made accessible within the prescribed period Application method: File discrimination complaints with NCPD at https://www.ncpd.gov.ng

Important Terms

Dismissal of an employee solely on grounds of disability is unlawful Failure to provide accessibility within timelines attracts fines Disability fund is to be maintained and utilised solely for persons with disabilities

Impact & Metrics

Legal basis established for Nigeria to honour UNCRPD obligations; growing number of employers implementing disability inclusion policies.

Official Resources

Website: https://www.ncpd.gov.ng Contact: National Commission for Persons with Disabilities (NCPD)

Legal Framework

The Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act 2019 domesticates the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), which Nigeria ratified. It operates under Section 42 of the 1999 Constitution (freedom from discrimination) and alongside the Child Rights Act 2003 and the National Health Act 2014. The National Commission for Persons with Disabilities Act 2019 provides institutional implementing authority.