Federal Govt Launches Empowerment Programme For Persons Living With Disabilities

The federal government has approved a 10 per cent inclusion for  Persons Living With Disabilities, (PLWDs) in all federal government interventions and social safety net schemes of the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation.

Minister of humanitarian affairs and poverty alleviation, Dr Betta Edu, made this known during the launch of the empowerment programme for persons with disabilities at the FCT Art and Culture Conference Hall, Abuja, a statement from the ministry said yesterday.

According to Dr. Edu, PLWDs will also benefit from all the  programmes under the ministry, including the End Hunger programme, Conditional Cash Transfer, N-power, Renewed Hope Shelters Program, Geep Programmes as well as the Code  Nigeria program among others.

The inclusion will be selected and implemented through the National Commission for Persons With Disabilities.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the minister said,  does not see  them as persons with  disabilities but as persons with special abilities. 

She commended the president for signing the African charter on the protection of the rights of persons living with disabilities and subsequent appointments of persons living with disabilities into key positions in government. 

“Over the years, the voice of persons with disabilities could not be heard, they were silenced in all sectors, their brand was neglected, but the government of President Tinubu has brought hope alive to them.  The Renewed Hope Agenda is aimed at pulling 50 million Nigerians, including PLWDs, out of poverty within 42 months,” she said.

On the occasion, the minister symbolically presented Point of Sales (POS) machines and N100,000 operational capital to PLWDs.

She announced the sum of  N130,000 as scholarship support to PLWDs in tertiary institutions across Nigeria and made a presentation of N20 million annual grant to the Association of Persons living with Disabilities in Nigeria.