By Andy Asemota
The Senate has resolved that Federal Government should provide at least 10% of all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) projects and programmes for Persons Living With Disabilities (PLWDs) in view of the effects of COVID-19, insurgency and insecurity in the country.

The Upper Chamber tasked the government with the special presidential intervention for the PLWDs in Nigeria since the government has found it worthy to sign the Discrimination Against Persons With Disabilities (Prohibition) Act, 2018 and established the National Commission for the PLWDs.

This resolution followed a motion sponsored by Senator Abubakar Yusuf (Taraba Central); Deputy Senate President,  Ovie Omo-Agege (Delta Central), and no fewer than 12 other senators.

Worried that the increase of men and women in the front line of duties for the unity and survival of the nation has increased the transition into the communities of PLWDs, the Red Chamber urged President Muhammadu Buhari to provide a five – year – post COVID-19 special intervention programme in the areas of mass distribution of “assistive devices” to include wheelchairs, prosthesis and orthotics, hearing aids, crutches, braille machines, special computers and skin protectors among others.

“This will ensure access to education; independent living for our people and facilitate effective inclusion and participation in development activities,” the Senate maintained.

Gbajabiamila advocates full implementation of law against Discrimination of Persons With Disabilities

The legislature also urged the Federal Civil Service Commission to give special attention to persons with disabilities during recruitment as it enjoined security agencies to ensure that persons who become disabled in the course of their duties should be retained and converted to less demanding tasks than retiring them.

It tasked the National Commission for PLWDs not only to provide the affected persons with the “assistive device,” but also implement this resolution under the supervision of the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs.

Further disturbed that despite the various laudable interventions by the Federal Government in reducing poverty and cushioning the effect of COVID-19, the community of PLWDs has not felt the impact because of the unfriendly conditions attached to the process, the Senate urged the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) through NIRSAL Micro Finance Bank to provide special loan facilities to persons with disabilities through the national commission for the PLWDS.