Persons With Disabilities: CISLAC Advocates Enhanced Budget Allocation For Them
Princess-Ekwi Ajide
Reports say, over 30 million Nigerians with disabilities lack access to essential services such as education, healthcare, employment, and access to infrastructure despite the enactment of the Persons with Disabilities Prohibition Act 2018.
This the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre, CISLAC, says its implementation has been hampered by inadequate funding and therefore, called on the Federal government of Nigeria to significantly increase the budget allocation for Persons with Disabilities, PWDs, in the 2024 supplementary budget and the 2025 budget.
A statement signed by the Head of Communication, CISLAC, Abdullahi Sambo, harped on the need to promote inclusivity and address the socio-economic challenges PWDs face, to ensure they participate fully in Nigeria’s governance and development processes.
The Centre noted that democracy requires all members of society to be treated equally and PWDs should not be exceptions adding that inclusivity ensures that all citizens, including PWDs, can contribute to national development.
CISLAC while commending the federal government and the National Assembly on their efforts at addressing challenges PWDS face, argued that they need to do more as PWDs face significant barriers that hinder their full participation in society, including limited access to education, high unemployment rates, and inadequate healthcare services.
These challenges according to the group, perpetuate a cycle of poverty and social exclusion, preventing PWDs from contributing effectively to national development.
As such, the Centre made some recommendations to the Federal government as a means of carrying PWDs along including increasing Education Funding, by making investment in special education programmes, vocational training, inclusive schools, and skills acquisition workshops to equip PWDs with the necessary skills for gainful employment, improvement in healthcare that would ensure provision of accessible healthcare facilities and services, including rehabilitation centers, assistive devices, and specialized medical care for PWDs.
It also recommended Employment and Economic Empowerment through implementation of policies that promote employment opportunities for PWDs, support for entrepreneurship, and enforcement of anti-discrimination laws in the workplace and Accessible Infrastructure by developing public infrastructure that is accessible to all, including government buildings, transportation, and information and communication technologies.
According to CISLAC if these recommendations are taken into account and all hands are on deck, every Nigerian, irrespective of status, class or tribe will thrive and contribute meaningfully to national development.
CISLAC solicited the assistance of all stakeholders, including government, Private Sector, Civil Society Organisations, Community leaders and the Media, to make Nigeria a better place for all.
