House Advocates Special Fund For Persons With Disabilities In Nigeria

Oluwakemi Kindness

The House of Representatives on Tuesday advocated for the Disability Trust Funds to cater for the plights of over 35 million people with disabilities in Nigeria.

The House Committee on Disability Matters made the call at the Official Signing of Memorandum of Understanding for PWDs Potential Unhinged Project.

Chairman of the Committee, Bashiru Dawodu, explained that lack of compliance to the disability act is hindering their contribution to National economy.

He also called for tax exemption for Persons With Disabilities, while stressing that companies employing persons with disabilities or manufacturing facilities used by them should be enjoy tax relief.

According to Dawodu, though the committee on Disability is in full support of the tax reform bills, they ae conscious of the loop holes in the bills and will be presenting their position at the public hearing.

He added that teachers involved on special education should be encouraged through scholarship, while a disability trust fund should be put in place to take care of the interest of PWDs.

For the Director, PWD’s Potential Unhinged Project, Valentine Ugochukwu Zion, the MoU covers nationwide medical access support initiative for persons with disabilities which aim to provide b support to PWDs in under served areas.