By AHMED MUSA

The National Commission for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD) says it is working assiduously to introduce a special allowance towards reducing financial burden on Persons with Disabilities (PwDs).

Mr Ayuba Gufwan, the Executive Secretary of the commission, said this on Monday in Abuja while briefing newsmen shortly after a road walk tagged: ?Road Walk for Disability Inclusion in Nigeria?.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the walk was organised by the commission in collaboration with Sightsavers Nigeria, the Leprosy Mission in Nigeria and other partners.

The aim was to commemorate the 2024 International Day for Persons with Disabilities (IDforPwDs).

?Under my leadership, we have met with the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission (NSIWC) on introducing a disability allowance into the salary structure for PWDs.

?This bold initiative seeks to alleviate the additional financial burden many PWDs face, covering costs for essential support like guides, assistants, and interpreters.

?They are often necessary for PWDs to fulfill job responsibilities effectively,? he said.

Gufwan said that the commission was unable to achieve enough due to inadequate budgetary allocation.

He said that he had led a team to the House of Representatives and proposed a significant increase in the commission?s budget from N4 billion to an enhanced budget for 2025.

?This move underlines the need to fund scholarships, provide mobility aids, reconstruct accessible office facilities, and expand medical outreaches.

?This proposal allocates adequate funding per geopolitical zone, specifically for education scholarships, bursaries, empowerment programmes, training, and essential mobility aids,? he said.

He listed the mobility aids to include wheelchairs, motorcycles, crutches, guide canes, braille machines, and hearing impairment devices.

Also speaking, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Special Needs and Equal Opportunity, Mr Abba Isah, said that President Bola Tinubu?s administration was doing a lot to alleviate the sufferings of PwDs.

Isah explained that the President was aware of the fact that access to social amenities was still a challenge to some disability community.

He, therefore, expressed readiness to partner with relevant stakeholders to provide the needed support to the disability communities in the country.

Esther Bature, Country Advocacy Coordinator, Sightsavers Nigeria, said that one of the group?s missions was that people could live without being blind due to avoidable causes.

?We also believe that PwDs have a right to live an equal life and have equal opportunities with Persons without disabilities, and we intend to stick to these missions.

?We have partnered with the commission to promote these ideals, we have developed a five years strategic plan for the commission, we have also supported them in developing access to work scheme,? she said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Road Walk, which covered about four kilometres, started from the headquartered of the commission along Ahmadu Bello Way and terminated at Unity Fountain (NAN)

?PHOTO: Ayuba Gufwan, the Executive Secretary, National Commission for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD) while briefing newsmen during road walk to mark 2024 International Day for Persons with Disabilities in Abuja

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