Nigeria’s over 35 million Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) are being left in the lurch as the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD) battles a crippling ₦58 billion funding deficit.
Executive Secretary of NCPWD, Hon Ayuba Gufwan, revealed the sobering assessment, warning that the commission’s meager ₦2 billion allocation—against a needed ₦60 billion—severely undermines efforts to meet the basic needs of this vast community.
Hon. Gufwan, during a high-level strategic engagement between the NCPWD and the UN Inclusion Coordinator in Nigeria, Ekaite Judith Umoh, further outlined the pressing challenges hindering the commission’s effectiveness, emphasizing the need for infrastructural development, comprehensive data collection, and increased funding.
During the meeting, he revealed that the commission operates from a rented facility, limiting accessibility improvements, and stressed the urgent requirement for accurate data to drive policy decisions.
He also advocated for establishing liaison offices in all 36 states and engagement centers in the 774 local government areas to decentralize services and make them more accessible.
Ms Umoh expressed concern over the limited financial resources allocated to the commission and reaffirmed the UN’s commitment to supporting disability inclusion efforts in Nigeria. She pledged to collaborate closely with the NCPWD to implement accessibility regulations and other strategic interventions.
The commission also presented key policy documents to the UN Inclusion Coordinator, including the Local Government Disability Framework, National Accessibility Regulations, Five-Year Strategic Plan, and National Access-to-Work Scheme. Additionally, it unveiled a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) on Inclusive Education, designed to guide teachers in providing accessible learning environments for PWDs.
The meeting concluded with a formal handover of these policy frameworks, marking the beginning of a strengthened partnership between the NCPWD and the United Nations to drive systemic reforms and improve the lives of PWDs in Nigeria.