ENUGU — A bill for a law to provide for the full integration of persons with disabilities into society on Tuesday scaled through its first reading in the Enugu State House of Assembly.
The bill, Enugu State Discrimination against Persons with Disability (Prohibition) Bill HB 4, 2022, seeks to provide for the full integration of persons with disabilities into society, establish the Enugu State persons with disabilities Agency and vest in the Agency the responsibilities for their education, healthcare, social, economic and civil rights and for connected purposes.
So as not to excommunicate those living with disabilities, the bill seeks that Enugu state recognizes sign language as an official language. By this, major news and programmes presented via state-owned television shall as well run in sign language and be subtitled.
Once the bill is passed into law, public building plans must make provision for accessibility facilities; contravening this section, officer who approved the building plan commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine of at least one million naira only (#1, 000, 000.00) or a term of two years imprisonment or both.
Section 15 of the bill also prohibits the use of persons with disability in soliciting for alms; the penalty for this offence upon conviction is a fine of one hundred thousand naira (#100, 000. 00) or a term of six months imprisonment or both.
Speaking after the presentation of the bill, the Speaker Enugu State House of Assembly, Edward Ubosi called on his colleagues to study the bill so as to make inputs that will suit the peculiarities of Enugu state.
Enthusiastic about the bill, Ubosi revealed that the National Assembly had passed this bill in 2018 and when passed in the Hallowed Chamber, it would improve the plight of persons living with disabilities in Enugu state.
“The bill will come up for second reading at the next adjourned date, Tuesday 18th October, 2022,” the Speaker said.
- Fatal Accident Claims Lives Along Enugu-Opi-Nsukka Road - May 1, 2024
- Nimbo Attack: Enugu Govt. Offers Scholarship, Employment To Victims’ Dependents - April 30, 2024
- Enugu Govt. Mourns With Senator Ayogu Eze’s Family - April 29, 2024
