Abuja, Nigeria – In a powerful call for equality, Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) and their advocates have demanded a comprehensive overhaul of the tax reform bills currently before the National Assembly. During a town hall meeting in Abuja organized by Fight Inequality Alliance (FIA), PWDs voiced their concerns over the lack of provisions for their community in the proposed tax reforms, urging lawmakers to consider tax exemptions and waivers, especially on assistive devices, to ease their financial burdens.
The meeting, themed “Tax the SuperRich, Not the Poor,” brought together a coalition of disability rights activists, including Mrs. Eno Sandra Uyebi, the spokesperson for FIA, who stressed the glaring omissions in the tax reform bills. According to Mrs. Uyebi, disability was only briefly mentioned in the proposed legislation—limited to pensions for military personnel with disabilities and issues surrounding estate liabilities. The bills, she argued, fail to adequately address the specific challenges faced by PWDs in Nigeria, particularly regarding the affordability and accessibility of essential assistive technologies.
“Out of the 19 items that currently qualify for VAT exemption under Section 187 of the bill, none of them are related to disability,” Mrs. Uyebi noted with frustration. “While Section 188 exempts essential items like medicine and education, critical resources for PWDs, such as braille reading materials, digital braille devices, and other assistive technologies, are not covered. These devices, which are essential for the education and daily living of PWDs, are imported and often come with hefty import duties and taxes.”
She further emphasized that the failure to include assistive devices in the exemption list reflects a broader oversight in the bill’s draft process. “The drafters of these bills clearly did not consider the unique needs of the disability community,” Uyebi said, pointing out that while some educational materials such as braille books might qualify for exemptions, the reality is that many PWDs rely on digital devices that remain beyond their reach due to prohibitive costs.
In a broader appeal, Mrs. Uyebi called for a shift in how the tax system is structured, advocating for more equitable solutions that would tackle financial inequality in the country. She highlighted the absurdity of the current tax system, which allows billionaires like Elon Musk, who makes around $3 billion a day, to pay only a fraction—0.3 percent—of their wealth in taxes. Meanwhile, ordinary citizens, including small-scale traders and vulnerable groups, bear the brunt of the tax burden. “If we were to tax the super-rich more fairly, we could generate trillions of naira every year, which could be reinvested in public services like healthcare, education, and social welfare,” she argued.
Mrs. Uyebi’s remarks resonated with those in attendance, particularly when she compared the minimal tax burden on the wealthiest individuals to the heavy taxes faced by the poorest. “How much tax do billionaires pay? Just 0.3% of their wealth. Compare that to a rice trader in northern Nigeria, who pays 40% of their income in taxes, and it becomes clear that we need to fundamentally change this system,” she said.
The meeting was not just a platform for raising concerns but also a call to action for the disability community to advocate for more inclusive tax policies. “FIA is urging PWDs to use their voices and advocacy to demand tax bills that are not only inclusive but also feasible and practical for our community,” Uyebi concluded.
Ambassador Mube Awala Beatrice, the FCT Women Leader of the Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD), echoed these sentiments, calling for tax rebates on health insurance and waivers on assistive devices. “PWDs require additional resources to meet their health and educational needs, and a tax break would provide much-needed financial relief,” she added.
Several other representatives from disability organizations were present at the meeting, all of whom voiced support for the campaign. Among them were Mr. Donald Unanka, Creative Director of Potters Gallery Initiative; Comrade Chris Agbo, Chairman of the National Association of Persons With Physical Disabilities (NAPWPD), FCT Chapter; and Clive Otaigbe, representing the National Association of the Blind, Elijah Matthew Asu representing the Albinism Association of Nigeria, Ukachi Cynthia from Mimijane Foundation and Chairman, Abuja Association of the Deaf, Ayoade Beyioku-Alase. They, along with other members, stood united in demanding tax reforms that ensure the inclusion of PWDs and bridge the gap of financial inequality.
Comrade Gideon Adeyeni, a member of FIA, took the opportunity to emphasize that the threshold for taxable income should be different for PWDs, acknowledging the additional challenges they face in daily life. “The current threshold of #800,000 for taxable income is not enough for anyone, let alone for persons with disabilities who face higher costs for healthcare, mobility aids, and education,” he stated. “We need to raise this threshold significantly for PWDs and introduce exemptions for goods and services specifically used by them, such as wheelchairs, hearing aids, and braille devices.”
In addition to these proposals, Adeyeni suggested that tax deductions should be extended to the parents and legal guardians of PWDs, recognizing the extra financial burden of caregiving. He also stressed the need for better identification systems to ensure that PWDs can easily access tax exemptions and benefits.
Comrade Iroh Faithful, another FIA member, wrapped up the meeting with a final call for inclusivity in tax reforms. “The government must prioritize the needs of vulnerable groups like PWDs by offering benefits such as free healthcare, subsidized electricity, and reduced communication tariffs,” he stated. “These measures will help reduce the financial strain on PWDs and work toward a more balanced and fair society.”
The town hall meeting concluded with a unified message: Tax reforms must not only be a tool for economic growth but also a means of addressing social inequality and promoting fairness. For the disability community in Nigeria, the fight for a just tax system is far from over. With the ongoing tax reform process in the National Assembly, disability advocates are hopeful that their voices will be heard, and their demands for a more inclusive tax framework will be realized.
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