PWDs march to demand President’s assent to disability bill

Persons Living With Disability have called on President Muhammadu Buhari to sign the Disability Bill into law without further delay.

The PWDs staged a protest march in Abuja to bring attention to this.

A former chairman of National Human Rights Commission, Chidi Odinkalu, joined in the rally.

They urged the National Assembly to override President Buhari’s veto as the 30-day window for assent lapses Friday.

The Centre for Citizens with Disabilities, (CCD), had late last year, said the National Assembly has transmitted the National Disability Bill to the President for assent.

The executive director of CCD, David Anyaele who disclosed this to journalists said the bill was transmitted by the Clerk of the National Assembly in line with their demand for the urgent transmission of the bill to the President.

‘’This Policy Brief, developed by CCD, with support from RoLAC Programme, will deepen your understanding on the provisions of the bill. ‘’Over 25 million men and women with Disabilities and their families are appealing to Nigerians for support to secure the President’s assent. ‘’As the Presidential candidate of APC, President Buhari promised on March 21 2015 at Lafia, Nasarawa State, to end all forms of discrimination against persons with disabilities in Nigeria if elected as the President through passage of the disability bill, Anyaele said.

But the President and his vice, during a town hall dialogue Wednesday night, said they were unaware of the transmission of the bill to the president for assent.