President Muhammadu Buhari has signed the bill to end discrimination against persons with disabilities into law.

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Senator, Ita Enang, who disclosed this in a statement in Abuja on Wednessday said the Act prohibits all forms of discrimination on ground of disability and imposes fine of N1, 000, 000 for corporate bodies and N100, 000 for individuals or a term of six months imprisonment for its violation.

The Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act 2018, also guarantees the right to maintain civil action for damage by the person injured against any defaulter.

The Act provides for a five-year transitional period within which public buildings, structures or automobile are to be modified to be accessible to and usable by persons with disabilities, including those on wheelchairs.

He said the Act further provides: “Before erecting any public structure, its plan shall be scrutinized by the relevant authority to ensure that the plan conforms with the building code.

“A government or government agency, body or individual responsible for the approval of building plans shall not approve the plan of a public building if the plan does not make provision for accessibility facilities in line with the building code.

“An officer who approves or directs the approval of a building plan that contravenes the building code, commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine of at least N1, 000, 000 or a term of imprisonment of two years or both.

“Discrimination is prohibited in public transportation facilities and service providers are to make provision for the physically, visually and hearing impaired and all persons howsoever challenged. This applies to Seaports, Railways and Airport facilities.

“The rights and privileges include education, healthcare, priority in accommodation and emergencies.Furthermore, all public organisations are to reserve at least 5 percent of employment opportunities for these persons.

“The National Commission for Persons with Disabilities is also established in Section 31 with Executive Secretary as the head.” the statement stated.

The bill to protect the rights of people with disabilities had been in the works for almost a decade. Significant work was done on the bill by the sixth Senate but it was concluded by the eight senate with the bill transmitted to the President December 2017.

When asked about the bill in a recent Presidential debate programme on the network of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) both President Buhari and his Vice Professor Osinbajo being in receipt of the bill but evidence was presented later presented that the bill was received at the Presidency in December 2018.