Reserve 10% of all political appointments for qualified PWDs, CSO tells Tinubu

The Inclusive Friends Association (IFA), a civil society organisation, has called on President Bola Tinubu to prioritise persons with disabilities (PWDs) in his administration. 

In a statement on Tuesday, Grace Jerry, executive director of the association, said past efforts to improve conditions of PWDs in the country have not yielded the desired results.

The association added that the Tinubu administration presents a “window of opportunity to change this narrative and work toward improving the rights of the over 30 million persons with disabilities in Nigeria”.

In its recommendations, the group called on Tinubu and state governors to ensure at least 10 per cent of all political appointments are reserved for qualified PWDs.

“The President and state governments should commit to affirmative action to ensure at least 10 percent of all political appointments are reserved for qualified persons with disability,” the statement reads.

“The President should commit to influencing the federal ministry of humanitarian affairs to develop and implement a special disability social protection scheme to cover out-of-pocket expenses on health by persons with disabilities.

“Through an executive order (temporarily) and then through the finance bill (permanently), import duties should be waived on the importation of assistive devices for persons with disability, thereby making it affordable.

“The executive or legislators should sign the National Trust Fund Act into law and fully implement it by the already existing Nigeria Commission for Persons with Disability (NCPWD).

“National assembly members should commit to a champion tax rebate for employers complying with the 5% disability quota as incentives through an act of parliament.”