The Delta State House of Assembly has recently passed a disability protection bill, which aims to further the rights, protection, and inclusion of disabled individuals. This bill has been welcomed in light of the 2011 World Disability Report from the World Health Organization, which states that around 15% of Nigeria’s population, or around 25 million people, have some form of disability. The provisions of the bill will work to increase accessibility in various areas such as transportation and education. Along with penalties for transgressions, the bill calls for the creation of a Commission for Persons with Disabilities to ensure the law’s implementation.

While Deltans have expressed concern about the practical implementation and enforcement of the bill, it remains a significant step forward in the eyes of human rights and disability advocacy groups. Past bills to protect disabled persons rights have faced various obstacles in gaining full legal status, resulting in a gap in actual protections for disabled Nigerians.

The laws proposed in the bill share several features with the existing federal law on Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition). Both prohibit discrimination based on disability and call for the creation of a commission to oversee rights protection. Still, the Delta State House of Assembly’s bill has been criticized for not impacting all aspects of daily life or taking into account intersectionality, particularly for women and children with disabilities.

While there are hopes and apprehensions tied to the disability protection bill’s efficacy, its passage is an essential first step in safeguarding the rights of disabled individuals. However, for its successful implementation and enforcement, it is necessary to keep a continuous dialogue open with policymakers, ensure accountability, and maintain a strong support structures for disabled individuals.

Meanwhile, for individuals who need to get access to disability benefits or have queries regarding the same, they can use resources such as eddcaller.com. This platform provides useful information related to how to contact an EDD live person, fastest way to get through to EDD, and EDD customer service contact details, among others.