FG Proposes Law To Make Building Disability Friendly

A proposal seeking for the promulgation of a law to make public building disability friendly has been adopted at the 13th council meeting of the National Council on Women Affairs and Social Development held in Port Harcourt on Tuesday.

The Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, Alhaji Idris Kuta who stated this said already, lobbying had begun at the National Assembly to seek the passage of the law.

Alhaji Kuta said  with the unanimous endorsement of the proposal, which was presented by the Kwara State delegation, the council would set up a bill drafting committee to frame the technical aspect of the law.

The Permanent Secretary said if the bill sailed through the National Assembly, it would provide access and equal opportunities for people with disabilities to buildings, lamenting that currently such lands did not exist.

According to him, the National Assembly on enacting the Disability Act which is already on its floor would provide protection, empowerment for those with disability”.

However, the memorandum presented by Niger State delegation for the establishment of a Directorate of Women Affairs in the 774 local government areas in the country was rejected by the council, as it was considered a duplication of activities already performed by the different states Ministries of Women Affairs.

On day one of the meeting, the council adopted the establishment of a women fund through micro credit schemes.

The Permanent Secretary stated that the essence of the fund was to provide soft loan schemes to cushion the challenges women face in accessing loans from conventional banks.

He said the ministry had concluded plans and currently making arrangements with selected beneficiaries and urged state ministries to review the Memorandum of Understanding with selected banks in order to benefit from the schemes.

In order to take the issues of women and children to the mainstream, he remarked that 2010-2020 had been declared the “African Women Decade”.

The proposal, according to him, was part of African Union (AU) resolution and was targeted towards celebrating the achievement of women and championing their problems at the grassroots.