By: Joshua Weng Chuwang
A member of the National Working Committee of the All Progressive Congress, Aare Tolu Bankole, has called for the implementation of a national policy by the Federal Government that will guarantee access to education and healthcare for Persons with Disabilities at no cost.
He made this call in a press statement in Abuja on Wednesday, emphasising the need to subsidise prices of medicine and assistive devices for millions of PWDs who find it difficult to afford them. The APC National Leader for PWDs acknowledged the harsh environment that these persons with disabilities strive in to survive as residents in Nigeria.
The uncontrolled hike in prices of goods and services, coupled with the non-inclusion of these persons to be active participants in the decision-making of economic policies and implementations, worsens the conditions of the million PWDs in the country. According to him, the present situation is a matter of social justice and, thus, calls for the government’s urgent intervention.
“I canvass for free education from primary to tertiary and free health services for PWDs as a national government policy. This is a matter of necessity and social justice,” he said.
The APC Chieftain argued that there should be adequate empowerment of Persons with Disabilities as education bridges unemployment in the country.
He emphasised that many PWDs are trapped in poverty due to a lack of quality education, which would enhance their capacity and make them more independent. Their education would aid more inclusion in governance and yield a balance in policy-making and implementation.
“Education is a bridge to self-employment and a powerful tool for economic empowerment. When PWDs are educated, they are equipped to lift themselves out of poverty and exclusion,” he asserted.
On healthcare, Bankole condemned the poor condition of facilities and the increased cost of essential drugs, specialised medical services, and assistive devices. He warned that many PWDs cannot access adequate healthcare and the support system they need to survive.
“Health is a fundamental human right. The cost of drugs and other medical essentials has gone beyond the reach of many PWDs. Without intervention, many of our people are left to suffer in silence and die. This must not continue,” he cautioned.
He commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, while calling for intensive efforts to enrich the over thirty million Nigerians living with disabilities through conscious and targeted social protection policies.
Bankole called on the Federal Government to initiate a disability-defined subsidy programme that would guarantee free access to quality education and inclusive access to medical services and a state-of-the-art healthcare facility at all levels.
“True inclusivity demands intentionality. As the government seeks to lift the most vulnerable, we must act decisively to reduce the burdens that PWDs face daily.”
He further made a call to action, requesting local authorities and the private sector to collaborate and promote the empowerment of Nigerians living with disabilities. He appealed to state governments to uphold the rights of PWDs while supporting the cause of social justice in their states. He reaffirmed his commitment to advocating for policies like the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act, 2018.
