Lawyers with disabilities seek judicial reforms to address exclusion

Lawyers with disabilities in Nigeria have called for urgent constitutional and judicial reforms to address systemic exclusion within the justice sector.

The demand was contained in a communiqué issued at the Annual Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association Lawyers with Disabilities Forum (NBA-LWDF) in Asaba, Delta State.

The communiqué, signed by the forum’s chairperson, Ms. Patience Etumudon, stressed that disability inclusion must shift from charity-based approaches to a rights-based framework anchored on law, accountability, and institutional responsibility.

The group said the conference aimed to deepen inclusion, strengthen enforcement of existing disability laws, and reposition persons with disabilities as professionals contributing to national development.

It identified barriers such as inaccessible courtrooms and police stations, weak enforcement of disability laws, poor data collection, unemployment, exclusion from NBA activities, and persistent stigma.

The forum called for reforms to the 1999 Constitution (as amended), the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act, the Electoral Act, and the National Policy on Disability (2017).

It demanded guaranteed accessibility in public institutions, improved disability data, recognition of diverse disability clusters, and reserved quotas for qualified lawyers with disabilities in judicial appointments.

The group also urged the NBA to adopt a comprehensive inclusion policy and called on governments to enforce disability rights laws and domesticate relevant legislation without delay.

Nigerians can now invest ₦2.5 million on premium domains and profit about ₦17-₦25 million. All earnings paid in US Dollars. Rather than wonder, click here to find out how it works.

Join Daily Trust WhatsApp Community For Quick Access To News and Happenings Around You.