The House of Representatives on Tuesday, resolved to investigate the level of compliance with the provisions of the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities Act in gaining access to public buildings across the country.
The House also asked its relevant committees to investigate approvals of building plans by regulatory authorities without provisions for accessibility facilities.
Leading the debate on the motion, Chairman of the House Committee on Disability Matter, Bashiru Dawodu (APC, Lagos) described the public building as a building made available for the use of members of the public whether owned by the government or private entities as provided for in section 57 of the Discrimination Against Persons with Disability (Prohibition) Act 2018.
According to him, sections 3 and 4 of the Disability Act provide that a person with disability has the right to access the physical environment and public buildings on an equal basis with others, including road sidewalks, pedestrian crossings, elevators, crutches, and toilet facilities to make them accessible to and usable by persons with disability.
He said that with the expiration of the transitory period within which to make modifications, persons living with a disability still cannot access public buildings.
