President of the Senate, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, on Wednesday, said that the 8th Senate and indeed the National Assembly will henceforth fight to ensure that Persons Living with Disabilities (PLWD) enjoy equal rights like every other Nigerian.
Saraki, according to a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Sanni Onogu, in Abuja, made the pledge while receiving two PLWD groups from the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and the Niger Delta region, who came on a thank you visit to the Senate leadership over the recent passage of the Disabilities Bill by the Senate.
The Senate President equally announced the donation of a bus by the 8th Senate to the groups to ameliorate their transportation needs as earlier requested by their leadership.
He stated that the leadership of the Senate would follow up to ensure that the Bill is signed into law by President Muhammadu Buhari after the concurrence of the House of Representatives.
“Let me give thanks to God for making this day possible because I remember that when you came earlier, we made a promise that we will ensure we pass the Disability Bill as soon as possible and we thank God that with the support of everybody here, the 8th Senate has been able to achieve it.
“I want to assure you that by this prompt action of passing this Disability Bill, it will send a clear message across that all of us here as Senators and the entire National Assembly, do not believe that because of one disability or the other, you are any different from any other Nigerian.
“We will continue to fight to ensure that you have the same rights as any other Nigerian and matters that concern you concern us; and that issues that concern you get prompt attention,” he said.
The leaders of the PLWD from Abuja and Niger Delta, under the aegis of Disable Emirate, Karamajiji, Abuja, Mr. Muhammad Dantami and the Foundation for Persons with Disabilities in the Niger Delta, Mr. Dandeson Hart, in the separate remarks thanked the Senate for the prompt passage of the Disabilities Bill.
Mr. Hart specifically noted that the Bill is going through its “third missionary journey” in the National Assembly.
He noted that “it was first passed under ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo”, who “never assented to it.
“It was again passed under ex-President Goodluck Jonathan. He never assented to it. We thank God that it has been passed now,” he added.
