Fed Govt Approves 500% budget increase for disability commission

The Federal Government has increased the 2024 budgetary allocation of the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD) by 500 per cent of what it received in 2023.

Executive Secretary (ES) of the Commission, Mr. James Lalu, dropped the hint in Abuja during a chat with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) yesterday.

He was speaking on how the disability community had fared in the one year administration of President Bola Tinubu

The ES said: “The administration of President Tinubu is truly committed to providing opportunities for People Living with Disabilities (PwDs).

“The commission has continued to receive all the necessary support from the administration to ensure that PwDs are carried along.

Lalu recalled that, as soon as the President assumed office on May 29, 2023, he made request on the instrument of reactivation of the African Union Protocol on Disability.

Just recently, there was approval from the President for the full enforcement of 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 structure that are required for the full enforcement of this accessibility regulations.

“This is going to empower the Commission to monitor compliance, seal buildings and where necessary, invite erring party or organisations.

“The commission is also empowered by the law to do investigation, prosecute and sanction, where appropriate.”