People living with disabilities (PLWDs) in Nigeria are minorities that deserve the attention of not just all but the eggheads in the corridors of power who are policy making stakeholders. Understandably, a good number of people living with disabilities are born that way and this makes their case deserving of government attention. There is the popular saying that disability does not imply incapacity but the later can actually become the reality if anyone with disability does not get the appropriate assistance. In a third world country or developing country like ours, where there are milling population of economically disadvantaged people , to suffer disability can only imply that the odds are stacked against you.
But for PLWDS in Nigeria, succour beckons from the corridor of legislative policy making that can provide documented legislation geared towards improving the welfare and lot of ‘ the special people’ in the society. The assurance of government concern for people who are living with disabilities in Nigeria came from Ondo South Senator and Chair Senate Committee on Interpaliamentary Affairs, Senator Jimoh Ibrahim (Phd), CFR. This indication was given on the global stage at the Commonwealth Parliament which held in Banjul, The Gambia in August.
Expressing concern over the plight of ‘the challenged people in Africa’, Senator Jimoh Ibrahim said a bill for the provision of free education at all levels for Nigerians living with disabilities is in the offing , challenging African Parliamentarians to go beyond the rhetorics on making life comfortable for PLWDs. In the 21st century, education has become quite expensive , hence there are chances that it can be beyond the reach of economically disadvantaged yet challenged people, thus it is a very commendable stride that the Senate of Nigeria is thinking of helping to sort the PLWDs out of a life without education. With the passage of the bill, Distinguished Senator Jimoh Ibrahim assured that PLWDS across the swath of Nigeria will have access to education at all levels and in addition to that, they will equally have access to free health facilities as well as being able to enjoy sustainable living.
It will be recalled that the last time a broad based free education scheme was made possible through government instrumentality was in the glowing days of Chief Obafemi Awolowo as Premier of Western Nigeria and this opportunity gave a lease on life to poor parents whose children would not have seen the four walls of the classroom safe for the ingenuity of the Awolowo led Western Region and his avowed interest in ensuring education for all. Majority of those who benefitted in that noble scheme reached the peak of their respective career in the post independent Nigeria as products of free , unrestrained and unfettered access to government sponsored education ; it is however not clear if they activated such policies for the younger generation to benefit from. This makes the Senator Jimoh Ibrahim’ s sure footed pronouncement of the resolve of The Red Chamber to push a legislation to cater for the free education of the PLWDs a very commendable step. It is quite obvious that in a society that is already stressed beyond its limits economy wise for most families , government sponsorship of the education of People Living With Disabilities at all levels in Nigeria will give PLWDs a sense of belonging and regardless of the fact that they are in the minority, this free education approach will bolster their resolve to make something good good out of life.
No doubt, Senator Jimoh Ibrahim has reached out from the global stage with a message of hope for the lowly Nigerians and has projected a Senate that is compassionate about the physical and psychological challenges of the class of people who are hardly talked about in policy formation. The core message being passed here is the need to love those who do not have the energy to compete fair and square in the society.
Enamored of President Bola Tinubu’s concern for tackling challenges of deprivation in Nigeria, Senator Jimoh Ibrahim had noted in Banjul that the President is providing palliatives and resource balancing as means of revolving the issue of deprivation occasioned by regional and ethnic conflicts in Nigeria.
What is a Renewed Hope Agenda that does not factor the welfare of persons living with disabilities? In putting this in perspective, Senator Jimoh Ibrahim indicated with conviction that President Tinubu’s agenda provides a reassuring hope for PLWDs, stressing that this is one reason why the bill to improve the oversight functions and adequate budgeting for PWDs will very soon see the light of the day.
People Living with Disabilities wait with baited breath for this Legislative assurance with breathless anticipation.
