Deaf Association Urges National Assembly To Pass Nigerian Sign Language Bill

The Nigerian National Association of the Deaf (NNAD) has urged the National Assembly to pass the Nigerian Sign Language Bill to improve inclusion, equality and access to essential services for deaf persons in the country.

The National President of NNAD, Haruna Tsafe, made the appeal while speaking with journalists on the sidelines of a peaceful rally to the National Assembly to commemorate the International Day of the Deaf and the International Day of Sign Languages.

Tsafe said the deaf community in Nigeria was estimated at about seven million people, stressing the need for equal opportunities and meaningful participation in society.

He said the rally was aimed at pressing for the official recognition of Nigerian Sign Language (NSL) and the establishment of a Nigerian Sign Language Council to regulate and standardise sign language communication.

“This week is to mark the International Day for the Deaf and International Day for Sign Language globally; today we in Nigeria are celebrating to promote and advocate inclusivity for the deaf through the recognition of the Nigerian Sign Language.

“We are on this peaceful rally to the National Assembly to find out the status of the bill; we are peaceful, but if the National Assembly refuses to pass the bill, we will resort to protest.

“We have requested the official recognition of the Nigerian Sign Language, which would lead to the establishment of the Nigerian Sign Language Council, which will regulate and standardise communication inclusion for the deaf.

“We often say Nigeria is the giant of Africa; we have to lead by example. Nigeria is a leading state on the continent; if the bill is passed in Nigeria, many other African countries will do the same.

“We call on the Nigerian government, as signatories to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the African Disability Protocol, to please comply with the Disability Act.

“We ask government to accept, adopt and rectify our NSL bill which covers every area of our needs like access to communication, employment, health and other social services,” he said.

Tsafe said several African countries, including South Africa, Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda, had taken steps towards recognising and regulating sign language, urging Nigeria to follow their example.

He said formal recognition of Nigerian Sign Language would help improve deaf persons’ access to communication, education, employment, healthcare and other social services.

The NNAD president also urged the Federal Government to fulfil its obligations under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the African Disability Protocol, and to implement the provisions of the Disability Act.

While commending the provision of sign-language interpreters at some public events, Tsafe said such measures required legislative backing to ensure that inclusion was sustained across government and other sectors.

He also praised the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for measures aimed at increasing the participation of deaf persons in the electoral process.

Tsafe further called for improvements in the quality of education provided to deaf persons, noting that some deaf Nigerians had obtained master’s and doctoral degrees and could make significant contributions to national development.

Also speaking, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Special Needs and Equal Opportunities, Mohammed Isa, said the administration of President Bola Tinubu remained committed to promoting an inclusive society.

Isa said the government would continue to engage stakeholders across various sectors in policymaking, particularly on issues concerning persons with disabilities.

According to him, the administration had introduced several social intervention programmes under the Renewed Hope Agenda targeted at vulnerable groups, including members of the deaf community.

He described sign language as an important means of facilitating access to education, information and communication.

Isa, however, acknowledged that the government could not address all citizens’ needs alone, calling on organisations, stakeholders and individuals to work with the administration to address the concerns of Nigerians living with disabilities.