.PWDs insist on 5% employment quota

Transition Monitoring Group (TMG) has decried the exclusion of no fewer than 35 million Nigerians from governance.

The Chairman, Auwal Rafsanjani, who bared his mind on the issue during a media briefing by Accelerate Disability Inclusion in Emergencies (ADIE) forum in Abuja, argued that the development was in breach of laid down rules.

Rafsanjani remarked that the plight of PLWDs that dared to participate in the electioneering process was worsened, as they could not cope with the country’s money politics and thuggery.

Lamenting the unavailability of facilities for PLWDs in public places, he wondered why the government chose to exclude them from negotiations over palliatives required to cushion the effect of fuel subsidy removal on vulnerable Nigerians.

The rights activist called on President Bola Tinubu to correct the anomaly by carrying PLWDs along in the decision making process in Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).

ADIE, at the briefing jointly addressed by Chieftain Agbo, Grace Jerry, Jake Epelle and Lois Auta called on the authorities to ensure the full implementation of the Discrimination Against Persons With Disabilities (Prohibition) Act, particularly the five per cent employment quota for People With Disabilities (PWDs) and incentivise private and public sector employers to implement workforce inclusion initiatives for PWDs like work-from-home options, flexible schedules and accessible workplaces.

The activists also called on the federal, state and local governments to introduce affordable public transportation system that is accessible to PWDs beginning from September 2023.

They noted: “This programme should provide discounted or free transportation vouchers, passes or dedicated transportation services to ensure affordable and accessible transportation options for PWDs.

“Accessible transportation should include buses with adjustable ramps and handrails for wheelchair users, signage and electronic display for directions with audio announcements for the benefit of the deaf and the blind.”

They also called on the federal and state governments to initiate a stand-alone social protection intervention PWDs, including establishing reliable databases of PWDs, food banks for an equitable distribution of economic palliatives to PWDs, and targeted financial assistance.