PLIGHT OF PWDs

In 2018, Nigeria established its Discrimination Against Disabled Persons (Prohibition) Act to strengthen the inclusivity of disabled Nigerians, ensure their undisrupted access to public spaces and the unhitched enjoyment of their fundamental rights. However, six years since the assent of the bill, not much seems to have changed in the country’s attitude towards Persons with Disabilities (PWDs). The social protection these persons enjoy is considerably inadequate despite the cover provided by the Act.

Aside from the Discrimination Against Disabled Persons Act of 2018, various past policy attempts have been made. These include The National Policy on Inclusive Education (2016), The National Health Act (2014), The National Health Policy (2016), and The Framework on Access and Participation. The establishment of the Act is one thing. Its enforcement, however, is another. The Act has failed to visibly improve the social, political and economic inclusion of disabled persons. The absence of accountability for institutions that fail to cater to the needs of PWDs and others who are guilty of discrimination against them is a part of the reason why the condition of these minorities has seen no betterment.

Disability in Nigeria is actively fostered by the proliferation of violent conflicts in various parts of the country, the lack of adequate health facilities and a variety of other factors. Violent conflicts are bound to leave injured persons in its wake. Although, there is no record used to track how many injured persons fully recover or not, disabilities are often results of violent conflicts. According to the Nextier Violent Conflict Database, from 2020 to present date, violent conflicts in Nigeria are responsible for two thousand, one hundred and fourty two injuries. In the aftermath of conflicts, PWDs are also the most affected. Being unable to operate without assistance, they are left to endure the harshness of those conditions.

Most disabilities in the country include visual and olfactory impairments, partial and total paralysis, physical malformation/injury, cognitive dysfunction and a host of others. Discrimination against PWDs manifests in several ways in Nigeria. Economic discrimination is the most jutting of them, worsening as the country faces inflation. PWDs have almost no access to already limited opportunities that should enable them to earn a fair living, thus strategically subjugating them to difficult and repressed lives. They also have to contend with social and political discrimination. These include access to social amenities such as transportation, education, public recess and relaxation areas, and dismembered franchises. According to the World Disability Report, at least 25 million Nigerians live with at least one form of disability. Even more dismaying is the survey carried out by the Grassroots Researchers Association in the northeast, particularly the violent hotbeds, Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states. The results of which show that PWDs in the region are grossly discriminated and the relief projects carried out by the government and stakeholder NGOs are below significant.

The cultural fabric of the country is imbued with prejudices against PWDs, seamlessly assuring a suffocating experience for the community. Such stigmas stem from cultural beliefs that go as far as restricting abled persons from marrying or even associating with disabled persons, especially in the rural parts of the country. The efforts to ensure social protection for disabled persons in Nigeria are embryonic, simply insufficient at best. Recently, cries have risen on social media. A disabled man using a wheelchair was denied entry into a KFC branch. The manager allegedly maintained that disabled people using wheelchairs would not be allowed into the premises. This is only a little peek into the injustices suffered by PWDs. As a result of the many troubles and stigmas they face, many PWDs are left without a stable support system and often resort to begging for alms.

Non-government Organisations and social initiatives have made efforts to lessen the burden on PWDs. The sturdy involvement of the government will help bring about a more concerted endeavour since the government  is responsible for ensuring all citizens enjoy a standard quality of life. The disparity between the quality of livelihood between abled persons and PWDs is striking. The systematic inclusion of PWDs into the political and economic scene is imperative for the country’s development. The government must consciously include PWDs in the country’s system and implement policies to cushion their vulnerabilities. PWDs should be integrated into the economy by creating jobs specially suited for PWDs. Adequate structures need to be implemented to include PWDs in the social register to ensure equitable distribution of social assistance services to these persons and avoid instances of social exclusion and discrimination.