A non-profit organisation, Accountability Lab, has called on owners of public structures, head of government institutions to make their buildings accessible for persons with disabilities.

The Country Director of Accountability Lab, Mr Friday Odeh made the call at the Open Government Partnership – Inclusion and Diversity Ecosystem Building Meeting organised by AL Nigeria.

According to him, it was necessary for public structures to be made accessible to the blind, deaf and those on wheel chair as provided for in the Persons with Disabilities Act.

While acknowledging the Federal Government’s effort in establishing the National Commission of Persons with Disabilities, Mr Odeh stressed the need for more sensitisation workshops and advocacies for people on the disabilities act which seeks equal rights for people with disabilities.

He said: “The major defaulters who fail to implement the act are government agencies. So, government needs to do more in creating awareness on this law as well in pushing for its implementation by its institutions.”

Mr Odeh also appealed to the state and federal governments to ensure inclusive budgeting and a constant assessment of the progress on the disability act, as well as continued advocacies for their implementation.

Originally published in Economic Confidential

Kibo Ngowi