CCD CELEBRATES DISABLITY ANNIVERSARY CALL FOR RAISING MOMENTUM ON EFFECTIVE IMPLEMENTATION

Centre For Citizens with Disabilities  has called for stronger action on disability rights as Nigeria marks seven years of the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act, 2018,.

The call was made by Centre for Citizens with Disability (CCD) and other organisations of Persons with Disabilities  at the commemoratin  event held   on Tuesday in Abuja.

Speaking at the 7th Anniversary celebration organised by the Centre for Citizens with Disabilities CCD, David Obinna Anyaele SA on Persons with Disabilities to the Governor of Abia State and Chairman Abia State Disability Commission as well as the Founding Executive Director CCD, emphasised that adequate funding remains critical weapon  to the success of the disability commission.

According to him, without a functional budget, it becomes  very difficult to lay the necessary foundation required to drive the objectives of the Disability Act, noting that poor funding slows down implementation and weakens impact.

Anyaele also identified capacity and capability gaps as major concerns, stressing that disability commissions will struggle if their operators lack the skills and expertise needed to effectively manage their mandates.

He further pointed to the need for strong political support at the highest level, explaining that disability issues must be prioritized by the President for meaningful progress to be achieved

The CCD founder called for deliberate political engagement to ensure disability is treated as a human rights and social justice issue, rather than charity, emphasizing that disability inclusion is about equal opportunity, access, and full participation in society.

Senior Special Assistant to President on Special Needs and Equal Opportunities Hon. Mohamed Abba Isa  reoresented by Lanre Oloyed,  said the Disability Act remains a landmark legislation but has suffered from weak implementation across many states.

Ho.  Isah ,noted  that , although about 28 states have domesticated the law and the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities has been established, many states are yet to set up functional enforcement agencies.

He identified poor funding, weak institutions, low awareness, and limited political will as key challenges, and called for stronger collaboration, disability inclusion in government policies, and effective monitoring and sanctions for violations.

SSA to president in soecual and equal needs ccommended  Centre for Citizens with Disabilities and the National Human Rights Commission for sustaining advocacy efforts and urged all stakeholders to ensure the Act delivers real benefits to persons with disabilities.

Speaking on disability governance and accountability, Dr. Sam Amadi the keynote speaker questioned whether institutions responsible for disability issues are truly delivering on their mandates.

He stressed that effective implementation may require appointing individuals from within the disability community, noting that representation is critical for meaningful impact.

Dr. Amadi also challenged the disability community to recognize that having a law is not enough, emphasizing the need for effective engagement with government institutions.

According to him, stakeholders must establish clear standards and ensure that relevant government agencies comply with those standards. He added that institutions must also build the capacity to understand and implement disability protections, supported by strong monitoring, evaluation, and sustained advocacy.

Dr. Amadi further noted that as the world continues to evolve, Nigeria must adapt by mainstreaming disability protection within its legal framework, aligning national laws with international legal standards to ensure inclusive and future-ready policies.

Executive Director of Cleen Foundation Peter Maduoma represented by Nnamdi Odo programme manager has urged governments at all levels to prioritize the effective implementation of Nigeria’s Disability Act.

Speaking at the event Nnamdi said while the Act is a major milestone, its benefits are yet to be fully felt by over 35 million Nigerians living with disabilities.

He acknowledged progress, including the establishment of the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities and the domestication of the law by about 28 states, but noted that many states lack functional enforcement agencies.

Nnamdi identified poor funding, low awareness, weak political will, and lack of sanctions as major challenges, calling for stronger collaboration, increased awareness, and better monitoring to ensure compliance.

He warned against allowing the Disability Act to remain a paper law, urging stakeholders to ensure it delivers real inclusion and protection for persons with disabilities.

The Theme of the event was Nigeria Disability Right: Raising the Momentum for Effective Implementation.