The Inclusive Friends Association (IFA) and its allies on the aegis of Access Nigeria Campaign have called for better deals for Persons With Disabilities (PWDs) across the country in the interest of national development.
This is contained in a statement on Thursday by IFA Program Manager, Mr. Moses Oluwaseyi, as part of activities commemorating the International Day of Persons with Disabilities.
He said that Nigerians join the rest of the world to recognize the International Day for Persons with Disabilities (IDPD), every December 3, proclaimed by United Nations (UN) through resolution 47/3 of 1992 to promote the rights and well-being of PWDs in all spheres of society and development, and to increase awareness of the situation of PWDs in every aspect of political, social, economic and cultural life.
“IFA and its allies (including USAID and National Democratic Institute (NDI) on the Access Nigeria Campaign leverages this Day to advocate for change on PWDs issues, especially improved electoral participation. This year’s IDPD theme is “Building Back Better: toward a disability-inclusive, accessible and sustainable post COVID-19 World”.
“The focus is to ascertain the impact of COVID-19 on PWDs and chart a way towards recovery. In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic impacted the world with PWDs among the worst affected groups,” he said.
According to him, the health, economic, and other consequences of the pandemic negatively impacted the political and socio-economic wellbeing of PWDs.
Speaking on Social Protection Policies and Governance, he said that Nigeria has approximately 30 million PWDs or 15 percent of the country’s estimated 200 million population.
He said, “We commend the 8th National Assembly and President Muhammadu Buhari for this feat. We also commend the President for setting up the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities in line with Part 7 and 8 of the Act. Competent Executive Secretary and other personnel were appointed to lead this new Commission.”
He therefore urged the executive and National Assembly to ensure that the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities is fully funded in the 2021 appropriation bill, now being considered by the latter, and other budgets in the years to come.
“IFA calls on INEC, the executive, state governments and other stakeholders to implement the comprehensive recommendations in our 2020 “Breaking the Barriers Report”. Prominent recommendations in that report include making polling units more physically accessible for PWDs and collecting data of PWDs across Nigeria to enhance planning for PWDs during elections,” Oluwaseyi said.
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