TheCable

Turaki Hassan, spokesman of Yakubu Dogara, speaker of the house of representatives, has dismissed the claim of Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo that the disability bill is yet to be transmitted to President Muhammadu Buhari for assent.

Speaking at The Candidates, an interactive programme on the elections, Osinbajo had insinuated that the federal lawmakers were delaying passage of the bill.

Kadaria Ahmed, the anchor, had told Buhari that “they (lawmakers) returned it (the bill) to you,” but Osinbanjo cut in, denying the claim.

He added: “Even as of Wednesday, there was a demonstration in front of the national assembly where they were saying that they were giving the national assembly seven days to transmit the bill to us; to the presidency.”

But Hassan said the national assembly transmitted  the bill to Buhari in December 2018.

He tweeted a copy of the letter dated December 14, adding that the bill was transmitted on the same day.

The letter read: “In consonance with the provisions of the Acts Authentication Act Cap, A2. Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, I wish with due respect to to forward to Your Excellency, the authenticated copies of Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Bill, 2018 for your consideration and assent.

“After Your Excellency’s assent, one copy of the signed Bill should be retained in your office while the other two are to be returned for our further action, please.”

Contrary to denials, @nassnigeria did transmit the Discrimination Against Persons with #Disabilities (Prohibition) Bill 2018 to @NGRPresident @MBuhari on December 18, 2018 cc: @bukolasaraki @YakubDogara pic.twitter.com/EwXx2cg5r1

— Turaki Hassan (@Turakies) January 20, 2019

TheCable reached out to Femi Adesina, Buhari’s spokesman, for comment, but he declined, saying he cannot join issues with the speaker.

“You want me to join issues with the speaker? No, no, I can’t,” he told TheCable via telephone.

Laolu Akande, Osinbajo’s spokesman, was also contacted but he neither answered his calls nor replied a text message sent.

The bill seeks to provide better welfare and end discrimination against persons with disability in the country.