The National Commission for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD) has received a total of 222 complaints of discrimination against People With Disabilities (PWD) this year.
Executive Secretary of NCPWD, James Lalu, disclosed this in Abuja on Thursday when he presented the 2021 score card of the commission before the House of Representatives Committee on Disabilities.
He said the commission has partnered with some partners and the Nigeria Police to develop the National Disability Strategy Plan, as well as enforce the Disability Act.
On the 2021 budget, Lalu said a total 737 million was budgeted for capital expenditure, N638,408,405:66 has so far been released for the purpose, and the commission had expended N275,342,047:23, while N363,066,158: 43 was not yet unutilized.
He said project performance at 43% of the entire capital program has so far been executed.
For the recurrent expenditures, the ES said a total of N299,999,997:00 was budgeted for overhead,  215,008,325:00 has been released to date, while N84,991,671:16 was unexpended.
He said recurrent expenditure has 71.67% performance.
On the projects executed in 2021, Lalu said, the commission successfully secured its office accommodation, repair, paint and procured furniture and order facilities for smooth takeoff.
He said developed operational guide, collected data on 50,000 of people with disabilities, execute COVID 19 cash transfer to PWD, and constructed PWD accessibility facilities in the headquarters.
Lalu said the commission also constructed accessibility facilities in selected Nigeria universities, while some in Bayero University Kano, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, University of Ilorin, were still ongoing.
The ES said the commission is developing a nationally acceptable sign language and pushing for the recognition of sign language as a second official language in Nigeria.
He said the commission has partnered the Federal Housing Authority (FHA) to provide mass housing for PWD in the country.
Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Disabilities, Princess Miriam Onuoha, said the presentation of the score card by the ES of NCPWD would ascertain the extent of implementation of the 2021 appropriation, which might form the input of the 2022 budget proposals.
She said the House has the constitutional mandate of oversight, appropriations and other forms of duties, which to enable the legislature to monitor the budget appropriated for the executive.
This is an exercise which fosters an opportunity for members to ensure that the Nigerian people get value for money. This is an exercise which ensures that we stop or reduce wastes of government and make accountable agencies to the tune of whatever monies we are appropriated to them.
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