Activist calls for improved tracking of disability-related budgets, projects in Anambra
By Lawrence Nwimo, Awka
Anambra-based human rights advocate and journalist, Ms Chidimma Ajemba, has called for increased monitoring and tracking of projects relating to persons with disabilities (PWDs) in Anambra State.
Ajemba made the call in Amawbia, Awka South Local Government Area, during a stepdown training organized as part of the GovTracker Fellowship, under the theme “Empowering Youth for Government Budgeting, Transparency and Accountability.”
The initiative is supported by the Webfala Digital Skills for All Initiative (WEDFAI) through the Digital Initiative Youth Democracy Cohort, with backing from the European Association for Local Democracy (ALDA) and the European Union.
Addressing participants, including government officials, civil society organizations, media practitioners, and representatives of the five disability clusters in Anambra State, Ajemba emphasized the need for systematic monitoring to expose policy gaps and service delivery failures affecting PWDs.
“A consistent effort in tracking instances of exclusion and marginalization will help government and stakeholders develop targeted interventions to meet the specific needs of persons with disabilities,” she stated.
Ajemba urged PWDs in the state to fully embrace the budget tracking toolkit provided by WEDFAI, noting that it equips citizens with the capacity to monitor, evaluate, and demand accountability on policies and programs that impact their lives.
She said the stepdown training aims to empower PWDs with civic knowledge to actively participate in democratic processes, engage with budgetary frameworks, and hold leaders accountable for inclusive governance.
“As persons with disabilities, we are aware of budget plans, including annual allocations for events like the International Day for Persons with Disabilities, White Cane Day, and Wheelchair Day. Yet year after year, these events are captured in the budget but never celebrated. We must begin to ask questions and demand transparency in budget implementation,” Ajemba added.
She further stressed the importance of civic vigilance, noting that tracking public budgets is not just about government accountability but about protecting the rights and dignity of PWDs.
“When government facilities and events are made accessible, it sets a standard for private institutions to follow. We need to demand more from our leaders to enable us to live independently and equally,” she said.
