A Nigerian visual artist and disability advocate, Jonah Karo Bulus, has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to introduce policies aimed at improving the welfare and economic participation of persons with disabilities (PWDs) across the country.
In an open letter addressed to the President, Bulus appealed for urgent government intervention to address the challenges faced by millions of Nigerians with disabilities, describing poverty, stigma, and exclusion as major barriers confronting the disability community.
The advocate noted that while some persons with disabilities survive through small businesses and personal talents, many others remain excluded from opportunities due to inaccessible systems and economic hardship. He stressed that the disability community is not seeking charity but equal opportunities to contribute meaningfully to national development.
Among the key requests made in the letter was a tax exemption policy for businesses owned by persons with disabilities. According to Bulus, many PWD entrepreneurs already bear additional financial burdens, including transportation costs, assistive devices, and medical expenses, making it difficult for their businesses to survive under existing tax structures.
He argued that exempting registered PWD-owned businesses from taxation would help them reinvest in their ventures, create jobs, and strengthen economic independence among persons with disabilities. “This is economic justice, not charity,” he stated.
Bulus also called for the establishment of scholarship and welfare schemes for children of persons with disabilities. He explained that many parents with disabilities struggle to pay school fees, forcing their children out of school and perpetuating cycles of poverty.
The disability advocate urged the Federal Government to introduce targeted educational support covering school fees and learning materials from primary to tertiary levels for children of PWDs, noting that such intervention would secure a better future for vulnerable families.
Referencing the President’s Renewed Hope agenda, Bulus said the disability community is ready to contribute to national progress if barriers limiting their participation are removed.
He added that empowering persons with disabilities to run successful businesses and ensuring their children remain in school would not only improve lives but also contribute to job creation and leadership development in the country.
Join Inclusive News Network WhatsApp Community For Quick Access To News and Happenings Around You.
