Centre for Citizens with Disability (CCD) says disability audits of ministries, departments, and agencies are imperative for significant compliance with the Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities Prohibition Act 2018.

CCD interim head Florence Chima-Austine said Thursday in Abuja there was poor implementation and compliance with the National Disability Law.

A disability audit is an investigation assessment of organisations’ plans, policies, and programmes to ascertain the level of compliance with the provisions of the national disability law and to foster enforcement where necessary.

It is also the physical assessment of structures and the technical assessment of policies to ensure inclusivity.

Ms Chima-Austine said the act had a poor compliance rate at all levels of government, including private institutions across the country.

She said this was due to a lack of audit and accountability on the roles and mandates of MDAs in ensuring inclusivity.

Ms Chima-Austine said there was an urgent need for inclusive financial bills by the legislature and the introduction of incentives to companies and institutions demonstrating a high level of inclusivity.

She said this was due to the low disability budgetary allocations to MDAs, which also pose a significant challenge to the functionality and overall mainstreaming of disability matters into programmes and activities.

According to her, the federal government should explore models similar to those in Zambia and South Africa, where incentives are provided to companies demonstrating commitment to inclusivity.

She called for collaboration with traditional and religious institutions on innovative approaches to create awareness of the law and improve compliance.

Ms Chima-Austine said the high knowledge gap on disability inclusion among community gatekeepers, especially amongst traditional and religious leaders, was also an impediment to compliance and implementation.

“The educational institutions also do not have the full awareness of issues of disability. Creating awareness or implementing the law exacerbates the socio-cultural bias and harmful practices perpetrated against PWDs across the country,’’ she said.

She urged stakeholders in the disability community not to relent in creating awareness of the law and advocate for its implementation.

Ms Chima-Austine also called for innovation in showcasing success stories as motivational tools.

She urged government agencies, civil society organisations, and organisations of PWDs to collaborate and sensitise the public on the law, the need for compliance and penalties.

(NAN)