In the wake of growing economic hardship in the country, Persons With Disabilities PWDs have proposed an amendment to the 2018 Disability Act to mandate Ministries, Departments and Agencies MDAs to cede 10 per cent of their social investment programmes to them.
The PWDs made the demand on Tuesday at the Multi-Stakeholder Forum on Disability Inclusive Governance in Nigeria organized by the House of Representatives in conjunction with the National Democratic Institute NDI and Accelerate Disability Inclusion in Emergencies Forum ADIE.
Co-Chair of ADIE, Christian Agbo who made the position of the PWDs known said; “As you may know, Persons With Disabilities have been the worst hit by Nigeria’s current economic challenges. The fuel subsidy removal policy, floating of the Naira and astronomical increase in electricity tariffs have made basic living very difficult for Nigerians, especially Persons With Disabilities.
“We have enormous challenges but we are not here to complain. We have come to be part of the solution. Indeed, this Forum is about solutions. To proffer solutions to this problem, we have been putting forward recommendations including the following since July 2023.
“The Federal, States and Local Governments should initiate a stand-alone social intervention programme for Persons With Disabilities, including establishing reliable databases of PWDs, food banks for an equitable distribution of economic palliatives to us, and targeted financial assistance.
“In this regard, we will be proposing an amendment to the Disability Act to make it mandatory for 10 percent of the social intervention programmes of all Federal Ministries, Departments and Agencies of government to be dedicated to Persons With Disabilities. The 10th House of Representatives earlier passed a resolution on this but we need to give that resolution legal teeth.
“While we understand the financial difficulties that the government is facing, we call on the federal government to halt further increases of all taxes, tariffs and duties to enable Nigerians to breathe. Similarly, we call for a significant reduction in electricity tariffs and other tariffs, taxes and duties that have been increased astronomically in recent times. In this regard, we commend the federal government for the five-month duty-free import for food items like maize, rice and wheat introduced yesterday. We need more of these kinds of steps”.
ADIE urged the Federal, States, and Local Governments to introduce an affordable public transportation system that is accessible to Persons with Disabilities.
The Forum said the programme should provide discounted or free transportation vouchers, passes, or dedicated transportation services to ensure affordable and accessible transportation options for Persons With Disabilities.
“Commercial buses procured now or in the future that do not have adjustable ramps and handrails for wheelchair users, signage and electronic display for directions with audio announcements for the benefit of the deaf and the blind, excludes the 35 million citizens with disabilities in our country”, said Agbo.
Declaring the event open, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dr Tajudeen Abbas said inclusivity remained a huge agenda for the 10th Assembly.
The Speaker was represented by House Leader, Hon. Julius Ihonvbere and Majority Leader, Hon. Kingsley Chinda.
“We expect that the outcome of this confab will add value to what we are doing in our legislative assignment”, the Speaker said in a speech read by Mr Chinda.
On his part, Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Disability, Dr Bashiru Dawodu recalled how the 10th House had introduced a sign language interpreter during plenary.
He said the House has begun investigating the MDAs for their compliance with the Disability Act.
“This event is to ensure that our words are translated to appreciable outcomes. We want to bring government and CSOs in synergy, enhance collaboration in governance as none of us an do it alone. Persons With Disabilities are over 30 million in Nigeria and face discrimination everyday. It is because of the belief that these challenges cannot be ameliorated without legislation that the NASS in 2018 passed the Disability Act.
“The law has a moratorium which expired in January 2024. Our committee has the mandate to investigate the compliance and implementation of the law. We have started that and in the nearest future, you will hear from us.
“I believe that our work should be about inclusion and not charity. It takes a second to become a PWD or a spouse or child of someone with disability”, said Dawodu.
Earlier, Senior Resident Director, NDI, Kelly Jones recounted he several challenges militating against PWDS.
She said the issues that PWDs faced during COVID-19 lockdown was different from what was faced by other Nigerians.
“After that, then came the fuel subsidy removal. I am not pointing fingers at anyone but it sure causes an emergency for PWDs in Nigeria.
“The efforts around all of this is not necessarily about favoritism but to have a seat at the table”, she said.
The ADIE Forum, a coalition of over 30 Organizations of Persons with Disabilities OPDs said it’s partnership with the House of Representatives is to ensure that the governance process sufficiently addresses the socio-economic needs of Nigeria’s 35 million Persons with Disabilities.