Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) in Nasarawa State have called on the government to prioritize inclusion in the 2026 budget by allocating funds to improve accessibility in public infrastructure and services.
The appeal was made by Mrs. Asaba Averson, a representative of the PWD community in the state, during the 2025 Citizens’ Budget Town Hall Consultation held across the 13 local government areas.
Averson highlighted the numerous barriers faced by persons with disabilities due to the absence of disability-friendly designs in public buildings such as schools, hospitals, and government offices. According to her, this lack of inclusive infrastructure significantly limits their ability to fully participate in society.
“The state’s infrastructure does not cater to persons with disabilities, making access to essential services extremely difficult,” she said.
She further pointed out that climate-related challenges, such as erosion and flooding, compound the problem, as damaged roads become impassable for many people with disabilities. Averson also emphasized the need for sign language interpreters in healthcare facilities, noting that the lack of such services hampers effective communication for the hearing impaired.
While commending the state for offering free education to persons with disabilities, she lamented the high rate of unemployment among graduates in the community. To address this, she advocated for an increase in the employment quota for persons with disabilities from the current 5% to 10%.
Other participants at the town hall meeting also raised pressing issues in their communities that they want reflected in the 2026 state budget.
Mr. Agabi Samuel from Doma LGA noted that despite the area being a major rice-producing hub, with the largest rice farm owned by Olam located in Rukubi, the road leading to the farm is in a deplorable state. He also cited poor drainage and unpaved streets as factors contributing to flooding during the rainy season.
Hauwa Ibrahim from Keana LGA appealed for the establishment of a General Hospital in Kadarko to enhance healthcare delivery. She also called for the rehabilitation of the Kadarko–Giza road to ease transportation of goods and people.
Speaking at the event, UNICEF’s Social Policy Officer from the Kaduna Field Office, Wakidara Mavis Akila, commended the Nasarawa State Government for involving citizens in the budgeting process, describing it as a progressive approach to development. She urged the government to allocate specific budgetary provisions for children, noting their needs in areas such as nutrition, child protection, water, sanitation, and education. Akila added that UNICEF is willing to provide technical support to help improve budget outcomes.
In her remarks, the State Commissioner for Finance, Budget, and Planning, Hajiya Munira Abdullahi, said the consultation—held under the theme “Fostering Collaboration on Resource Allocation – Key to Participation in Governance”—is aimed at strengthening citizen participation in governance.
Abdullahi noted that the state has made significant progress in transforming its budget processes to reflect the needs of the people, assuring participants that their contributions will be carefully reviewed and considered.
Also speaking, the Special Assistant to Governor Abdullahi Sule on Youth Development, Hon. Akolo David Alaku, expressed gratitude to the governor for his continued support for youth empowerment and urged that such efforts be sustained.
Representatives of both faith-based and community-based organizations, Charles Namo Francis and Dauda Azige-Duglu, respectively, also commended the government and the Ministry of Finance, Budget, and Planning for ensuring that the voices of the people are heard in shaping the state’s fiscal priorities.
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