CISLAC CALLS ON FG TO INCREASE BUDGET FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES

Auwal Rafsanjani, Executive Director of the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Center (CISLAC), has urged the federal government to increase the budgetary allocation for Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) in the 2024 supplementary budget and the 2025 budget.

This call aims to promote inclusivity and address the socio-economic challenges faced by PWDs in Nigeria.

In a statement released on July 11, 2024, Rafsanjani emphasized that increasing the budget for PWDs would foster socio-economic development and tackle the challenges faced by this vulnerable group.

He highlighted that such a move is essential for promoting sustainable democracy and ensuring the active participation of all members of society, as enshrined in international conventions on the rights of PWDs, including the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

Commending the National Assembly for its ongoing commitment, Rafsanjani recommended that the government prioritize current economic realities and increase the budgetary allocation for PWDs using contingency funds allocated for unforeseen circumstances.

He stressed that PWDs often face challenges such as limited access to education, inaccessible facilities, inadequate skills acquisition programs, and discriminatory practices, underscoring the need for more funding to improve their daily lives.

CISLAC urges the Nigerian government to demonstrate a genuine commitment to the rights and well-being of PWDs by increasing the budget allocation for disability-inclusive programs and we also call on the government to ensure that persons living with disabilities are not discriminated against because despite the existence of the Disability discrimination Act 2018, there is still a serious discrimination of the PWDs.

Increase in the budgetary allocation for the education of persons with disabilities because no nation rises above the level of its education and in this regard, no nation rises above the education of its most vulnerable members of the society. Therefore, investment in special education programs such as vocational trainings, inclusive schools, workplaces, businesses and skills acquisition trainings, workshops and seminars to equip PWDs with the skills needed for gainful employment.

Increase in the budget allocation for PWDs to cater for adequate health care facilities/ services are paramount because of the serious health challenges being faced by persons living with disabilities which is making it more difficult for them to have better health, adding to the already existing physical challenges they are dealing with, the provision of accessible healthcare facilities/services, including rehabilitation centre’s, assistive devices, and specialized medical care for PWDs and other forms of technologies that will aid them in accessing adequate health care services is critical and government should give the issue utmost priority, so that PWDs can have better health in order to go by their daily activities to earn a living which brings us to the issue of employment and economic empowerment through the implementation of legislations and policies that promote employment opportunities for PWDs, support for entrepreneurship, and enforcement of anti-discrimination laws in the workplace.

Lastly, we call on the federal government of Nigeria to increase the budgetary allocation for building infrastructures that is accessible to the persons living with disabilities and to also enforce the already existing laws that punishes/sanctions violators of such important provisions, because development of public infrastructure that is accessible to all people regardless of abilities is significant these includes; government buildings, private buildings, bus stops, banks, car parks, parks, hotels, hospitals and all public building infrastructure, transportations, and information and communication technologies.

CISLAC reaffirms its commitment to advocating for the rights of PWDs and calls on all stakeholders to join forces in promoting an inclusive society where every Nigerian, regardless of their abilities, can thrive and contribute to national development.

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