The Federal Government has announced plans to shut down public facilities that do not meet the minimum accessibility standards for people with disabilities (PWDs) beginning January 17.
Dr James Lalu, Executive Secretary of the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD), revealed this on Thursday during a press conference in Abuja.
The news conference was held as part of the sixteenth day of action to commemorate the 2023 International Day of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs).
Lalu stated that the commission will go into action immediately following the expiration of the Federal Government’s five-year deadline, which is set to expire on January 16, 2024.
“This commission was established with the full responsibility for the enforcement of its laws, and it has been stated in the commission’s establishment laws.
“Five years was given to organisations to comply with accessibility laws, and now the five years will expire in January 16 next year, we are now transiting from the era of advocacy to enforcement.
“By January we would go out in full force to make sure that the provisions of the law is properly enforced,” he said.
He added that the commission would enlist all necessary stakeholders to form a special task force to ensure the law’s implementation.
The NCPWD boss also stated that the commission would guarantee that organisations not only meet their accessibility criteria, but also provide 5 per cent employment chances to people with disabilities.
