NBA Lawyers With Disabilities Forum calls for inclusion within Nigeria’s justice system
Nigerian Bar Association Forum Advocates for Inclusive Legal Reforms
The Nigerian Bar Association Lawyers With Disabilities Forum (NBA-LWDF) has urged significant legal, institutional, and infrastructural reforms to ensure the full inclusion of lawyers with disabilities within Nigeria’s justice system and society at large.
This appeal was made during the NBA-LWDF Annual Conference held in Asaba, Delta State, under the theme “Beyond Triumphs: Advancing Inclusion, Impact, And Leadership For Persons With Disabilities.”
In a communiqué issued at the conclusion of the conference, which was signed by Chairman Patience Etumudon, participants stressed the need for a shift from charity-based approaches to disability inclusion toward a framework grounded in rights, accountability, and institutional responsibility.
The conference aimed to promote the inclusion of lawyers with disabilities, strengthen the enforcement of existing legal frameworks, and reposition individuals with disabilities as professionals and leaders in national development. Participants identified numerous barriers impeding access to justice and professional growth, including inaccessible courtrooms, police stations, and public buildings.
Other obstacles highlighted included inadequate enforcement of disability laws, a lack of reliable data for planning purposes, high unemployment rates among lawyers with disabilities, and exclusion from NBA events. Deep-seated stigma and discrimination further compound these challenges.
The forum also pointed to issues such as poor registration systems at birth, limited political will, insufficient funding, cultural barriers, and weak institutional capacity affecting the justice delivery system.
In its resolutions, the NBA-LWDF called for reforms to federal and state laws concerning disability rights, specifically targeting the 1999 Constitution, the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act of 2018, the Electoral Act, and the National Policy on Disability (2017).
The forum advocated for enhanced accessibility in public infrastructure, including courts, police stations, and transportation systems. Recommendations also included improved disability data collection, recognition of diverse disability groups, inter-agency collaboration, and the appointment of qualified lawyers with disabilities to the judiciary, including reserved quotas for these appointments.
Additional proposals involved the creation of a comprehensive NBA policy on disability inclusion, mandatory accessibility for NBA conferences and law schools, collection of disability data during legal profession enrollment, and requirements for applicants for the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) to employ at least one lawyer with a disability.
The conference further emphasized the need for accessible continuing legal education, inclusive curricula, and training for judges, police officers, lecturers, and law firms on disability inclusion.
In a call to action, the NBA-LWDF urged all levels of government to prioritize accessibility, enforce disability rights laws, and drive systemic change. The association challenged the NBA and related institutions to address discrimination, implement workplace inclusion policies, and ensure accountability. States that have yet to adopt disability laws were encouraged to do so promptly.
Legal professionals were also urged to incorporate inclusion in recruitment, practice, and retirement processes. The forum highlighted that ongoing national awareness is crucial for empowering lawyers with disabilities to assert their rights.
Participants at the conference included representatives from the NBA, the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities, the National Judicial Institute, and civil society organizations, along with private law firms and advocacy groups.
