The National Commission for Persons with Disabilities and the Nigerian National Association of the Deaf have called for a legislation that would make sign language a part of Nigerian languages.
The Executive Secretary, National Commission for Persons with Disabilities, James Lalu made this known while addressing the media on Thursday at a press briefing, in Abuja.
Lalu explained that as soon as the Commission gets the second version of the sign language, the Federal Government will recognize Nigeria as a National sign language.
He demanded that sign language be a part of the school curriculum starting from primary school level to secondary school level.
The ES however, lamented that most of the nation’s worship centers today do not have sign language interpreters which noted, was making it difficult for the deaf to worship in religious centres.
He observed that that if every citizens in Nigeria can learn how to communicate with sign language, life will become more easier for the deaf.
Also speaking, the President of Nigeria National Association of Sign Language Interpreters, Timothy Tinat urged the media to sensitize the general public on the importance of sign language and to let them know that sign language is not only for the deaf but can be beneficial to all.