Abuja – December 08, 2023 – Viewpoint Housing News.
The Federal Government has declared that as from January 17, all public buildings that fail to meet the minimal requirements for accessibility for people with disabilities will be closed.
Dr. James Lalu, the Executive Secretary of the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities, revealed this While briefing reporters in Abuja on Thursday,
The press conference was held in observance of the sixteenth day of activism marking the 2023 International Day of Persons with Disabilities.
Lalu stated that as soon as the Federal Government’s five-year ultimatum to organisations expires, which is anticipated to happen on January 16, 2024, the commission will go into action.
“As stated in the commission’s establishment laws, the commission was created with full responsibility for the enforcement of its laws.”Organisations were granted a five-year window to comply with accessibility requirements; however, this window will end on January 16 of next year, marking the shift from an advocacy to an enforcement age.
He said, “We would go out in full force by January to make sure that the law’s provisions are properly enforced.”
He declared that in order to guarantee the enforcement of the accessibility law, the commission will convene all pertinent parties to form a special task force.
“We will begin meeting with our partners to form a taskforce as soon as Christmas, and we will have everything operational by the end of the year.”In order for the enforcement of accessibility legislation to begin on January 17 at 12 am, the task force will mobilise as soon as the new year begins.
He announced that, “The task force of the commission will depart in full force and begin physical evaluation of the facilities at the important offices .
According to the NCPWD Boss, the commission will make sure that businesses adhere to both the accessibility guidelines and the five percent employment opportunity policy for people with disabilities.
We may evaluate these organizations’ personnel makeup, in addition to their physical infrastructure.
We need information about the number of disabled individuals they have, the total number of staffing decisions made, and the upkeep of the five individuals in these facilities.
