Bankole calls for full enforcement of disability act

…Unveils 10-Year inclusion strategy for Nigeria

The National Leader for Persons With Disabilities (PWDs) in the All Progressives Congress (APC), Hon. Tolu Bankole, has called on all tiers of government to fast-track the full implementation and domestication of the 2018 Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities Act, with clearly defined timelines, budgetary provisions, and sanctions for non-compliance.

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Bankole made the call in a statement he personally signed to mark the 2025 International Day of Persons With Disabilities (IDPD), commemorated annually on December 3 in line with a United Nations resolution promoting the rights and well-being of persons with disabilities worldwide.

This year’s IDPD theme is “Fostering Disability-Inclusive Societies for Advancing Social Progress.”

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The APC leader lamented that despite the passage of the Disability Act in 2018, implementation across the country remains inconsistent.

“Since the United Nations proclaimed 3rd December as IDPD in 1992, this day has served as a global reminder of the moral, social, and developmental imperative to build societies where every individual, irrespective of physical or sensory condition, enjoys dignity, equal opportunity, and full participation. This year’s theme, ‘Fostering disability-inclusive societies for advancing social progress,’ is both a clarion call and a roadmap for Nigeria and the world.

“This theme echoes the Doha Political Declaration and urges all nations to remove discriminatory barriers, guarantee equal opportunities, and embed disability inclusion in every sphere of public life. For Nigeria, a proud member of the United Nations, today offers us a moment of sober reflection on our journey and a renewed determination to accelerate progress”, he said.

Bankole highlighted the achievements of global disability icons as proof that society thrives when inclusion is prioritised.

According to him, “Persons with disabilities have repeatedly proven that disability is not inability. From Professor Stephen Hawking, whose brilliance reshaped our understanding of the universe despite severe physical limitations, to Haben Girma, the first deafblind Harvard Law graduate who redefined accessibility advocacy, and closer home, South Africa’s Natalie du Toit, the amputee Olympian who competed against able-bodied athletes. These icons demonstrate that when society adapts, extraordinary possibilities emerge.”

He, however, noted that Nigeria still battles significant structural and social barriers that hinder PWDs from accessing education, employment, healthcare, political representation, and accessible transportation.

To address these gaps, Hon. Bankole urged the Federal Government to work closely with the disability community to develop a comprehensive 10-Year National Disability Inclusion Strategy (2026–2035) with measurable goals in accessibility, education, employment, political participation, and technology.

He stressed the need for enforceable measures such as, “Regular accessibility audits of public buildings, transport systems, schools, and workplaces must become mandatory, with local governments playing frontline roles. Political parties must establish functional PWDs directorates and enforceable leadership quotas to deepen political inclusion.”

Bankole also advocated collaborations between government and the private sector to create entrepreneurship funds, vocational centres, and dedicated employment opportunities for PWDs, alongside robust nationwide awareness campaigns.

Reaffirming the rights of persons with disabilities, he stated, “Inclusion is not charity, it is a fundamental human right. A nation that marginalises any segment of its population ultimately impoverishes itself. But a nation that embraces full inclusion unlocks boundless innovation, productivity, and shared prosperity.”

He commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration for expanding social protection programmes, conditional cash transfers, accessible education initiatives, and targeted interventions. He also praised First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu for championing the rights of women and children with disabilities.

Bankole further lauded the APC National Working Committee led by Prof. Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda for institutionalising disability representation within the party, and acknowledged several APC governors who have domesticated the Disability Act and established agencies for its enforcement.

He reiterated his personal commitment to supporting PWDs through grants, scholarships, medical aid, mobility devices, and welfare packages.

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