by Maryann Abdullahi
The senate has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to provide a “five-year post COVID-19 special intervention programme” for persons with disabilities (PWDs).
The senate’s position followed the adoption of a motion titled, “Urgent Need to Provide Special Presidential Interventions for Persons Living with Disabilities in Nigeria”, during plenary session on Wednesday.
The motion was sponsored by Yusuf Abubakar, lawmaker from Taraba, with 11 other senators as co-sponsors.Yusuf, who commended Buhari for signing the discrimination against persons with disability Act 2018 and establishing the National Commission for Persons with Disability (NCPD), said the effects of COVID-19 has further exposed the discrimination faced by people with disabilities in the country.
According to NAN, Yusuf also expressed concern that many people with disabilities are yet to feel the impact of various social intervention initiatives of the federal government.In its resolution, the senate listed the areas for interventions to include mass distribution of wheelchairs, hearing aids and other such materials to support persons with disabilities.
The lawmakers also urged all ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) to earmark at least 10 percent of their projects for persons with disabilities through the NCPD.
The senate also asked the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), through the Nigeria Incentive-Based Risk Sharing system for Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL) Microfinance Bank, to provide special loan facilities for persons with disabilities through the NCPD.
For security agencies whose operatives become disabled in the course of discharging their official assignments, the senate said affected persons should be retained and given less demanding tasks.
The lawmakers further urged the ministry of humanitarian affairs, disaster management and social development to implement the resolution to ensure improved living standards for persons with disabilities.
