The Federal Government has boosted the 2024 budget for the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities by 500 percent compared to its 2023 funding.
James Lalu, the Executive Secretary of the commission, disclosed this information during an interview on Sunday in Abuja.
Lalu highlighted the advancements made by the disability community during the initial year of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
“The administration of President Tinubu is truly committed to providing opportunities for People Living with Disabilities. The commission has continued to receive the necessary support from the administration to ensure that PwDs are carried along.
“Since the coming of the Renewed Hope administration, there are some deliberate initiatives the President put in place to improve access to governance and quality of service to persons with disabilities,” he said
Lalu recalled that, as soon as the President assumed office on May 29, 2023, he made a request on the instrument of reactivation of the African Union Protocol on Disability.
“The President did not waste time, he went ahead to sign the instrument, demonstrating Nigeria’s commitment towards improving the quality of lives of PwDs which is part of the international treaty. As I am talking to you, Nigeria is a full-time member-state on issues of disabilities regarding African Protocol on Disability,” he said.
Lalu said that Tinubu also created the Office of the Special Assistant to the President on Disability Affairs to ensure that PwDs are carried along in governance.
“Just recently, there was approval from the President for the full enforcement of the Accessibility Law. This is a policy document, created primarily to provide standardisation for accessibility facilities for PwDs in public buildings and all the build environments as well as transportation. The National Commission for Persons with Disabilities at the moment is setting all the structures that are required for the full enforcement of these accessibility regulations.
“This is going to empower the commission to monitor compliance, seal buildings and where necessary, invite erring parties or organisations. The commission is also empowered by the law to do investigation, prosecute and sanction, where appropriate,” he said
Lalu said it was based on the approved law by the President that sanction was meted to a KFC outlet at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos over alleged discriminatory treatment against a passenger with reduced mobility at the airport.
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