The Federal Government has declared that 10% of social intervention funds are specifically allocated to people living with disabilities (PwD). The announcement was made by the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Betta Edu, during the inauguration of various empowerment programs sponsored by the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD) in Abuja.
Highlighting the government’s commitment to prioritizing the disability community, Minister Betta Edu stated that President Bola Tinubu had given a directive for 10% of all humanitarian and poverty alleviation interventions to be dedicated to persons with disabilities. This directive aims to ensure that the disability community receives targeted support in various government intervention programs.
“The Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation should dedicate 10 per cent of all humanitarian and poverty alleviation interventions to persons with disabilities,” said Minister Betta Edu. She emphasized that the flag-off of the empowerment programs for people living with disabilities is a significant step toward realizing the goals of the Renewed Hope Agenda.
The minister further highlighted ongoing initiatives, such as conditional cash transfers for 15 million households, with 10% reserved for the disability community. Additionally, the government is providing Point of Sale (POS) machines to persons with disabilities across Nigeria, enabling them to become the last mile distributors of funds to individuals in villages and hard-to-reach areas.
In a bid to support the economic endeavors of beneficiaries, Minister Betta Edu announced a donation of N100,000 to each recipient of the POS machines to help kick-start their businesses. This financial injection aims to empower individuals with disabilities to establish sustainable enterprises that contribute positively to their lives and communities.
Moreover, the government is extending its support to physically challenged students in tertiary institutions by providing N130,000 each as scholarships. Beyond financial assistance, efforts are being made to facilitate the proper registration of businesses owned by persons with disabilities. To this end, officials from the Corporate Affairs Commission have been enlisted to carry out registrations, with approximately N20 million released for this purpose.
The minister emphasized the transformative impact of these initiatives, stating, “Rather than begging, the PwDs will be running businesses that will empower them, their society, and everyone around them.” The overarching goal is to shift the focus from dependency to self-sufficiency, allowing individuals with disabilities to actively participate in economic activities and contribute meaningfully to society.
In addition to the aforementioned interventions, Minister Betta Edu outlined plans to provide grants to associations dealing with disabilities, further amplifying the government’s commitment to fostering inclusivity and empowerment for persons with disabilities. Through a multifaceted approach, the government aims to create an enabling environment that allows individuals with disabilities to thrive, both economically and socially, in alignment with the overarching objectives of the Renewed Hope Agenda.
Support InfoStride News' Credible Journalism: Only credible journalism can guarantee a fair, accountable and transparent society, including democracy and government. It involves a lot of efforts and money. We need your support. Click here to Donate