Lawmaker seeks institution of Trust Fund for PWDs
He said this at a symposium to commemorate the 2023 International Day of Persons with Disabilities with a theme: renewing hope together for disabilities inclusive society in Abuja.
The event was organised by the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD).
” We have over 35 million Nigerians that are disabled and that number can only increase not decrease because issues of disability are still crucial.
” So, we are saying that there suppose to be a Trust Fund because if we have a trust fund for Education, Petroleum why can’t we have a Trust Fund for Persons with Disabilities.
” We should have a trust fund for them even if it means government can put 1% of the revenue generated as it is done for NDDC, North-East Development Commission.
”Why can’t we do it for Persons with Disabilities because none of these agencies have the numbers that PwDs have, so there must be a Trust Fund for Persons with Disabilities so that we don’t need to go begging for money to support their course.
Izunaso also said, the Senate is working assiduously to enact law for the establishment of the Trust Fund.
”So that we will use the money to cater for the needs of persons with disabilities, we don’t need to always rely on budgetary provisions in every states of the federation if we have a trust fund but we are working on it” he said.
Izunaso also appealed to state governments to domesticate Disability Act in their respective states to help advance inclusive society.
The lawmaker also announced plans by the Senate to review some sections of the Act that established the NCPWD.
”It is important to note that the National Assembly is poised to review the act setting up the commission because we observed some abnormalities in the act.
”We are now set to amend it as a matter of fact the process passed second reading in the House of Representatives and it is about to go for a second reading in the Senate.
”A situation where the bill is talking about 5% employment opportunities for Persons with Disabilities only in the public sector what about in the private sector? it has to be accommodated.
”The bill is also talking about issuing a certificate to persons with disabilities. That is discriminatory, why do you need to give them a certificate for being disabled,” he said.
Izunaso assured Nigerians that the National Assembly would conclude the amendment of the bill by the first quarter of 2024.
He promised to influence the Senate to assign a sign language interpreter to enable PWDs gets acquainted with the proceedings during plenary in the Senate.
On her part, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation Dr Betta Edu, cautioned violators of the accessibility laws.
Edu said, the ministry would soon enforce the accessibility laws immediately the deadline expires on Jan. 2024.
” We are going to go after those organisations that do not make their facilities accessible to persons because there’s an existing law that must be enforced.
”Nobody is doing us a favour, the taskforce will soon move to ensure that every public building in Nigeria where its found to have violated the law must ensure that they provide that access to PWDs.
The Minister also appealed to the National Assembly members to increase the budgetary allocation of the disability commission.
”The budgetary allocation of the commission for Persons with Disabilities is very low and it is not acceptable, so on behalf of 35.5million Nigerians who are living with disabilities, we are pleading with the leadership of the National Assembly to please improve on the budget,” she pleaded.
She also urged the state governments to expedite action towards domesticating Disability Act at the State level.
Also speaking, the Executive Secretary of the Commission, Mr James Lalu, expressed gratitude to the minister for the continued support towards advancing the course of PWDs in Nigeria.
Lalu assured stakeholders of the commission’s support towards alleviating the plight of persons with disabilities across the country.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the event featured presentation of wheelchairs and other support devices to some members of the disability community in Nigeria.
