NEWS UPDATE: PDP CHIEFTAIN PROPOSES ₦1.9BN DISABILITY INCLUSION BUDGET FOR OGUN STATE

PDP CHIEFTAIN PROPOSES ₦1.9BN DISABILITY INCLUSION BUDGET FOR OGUN STATE


A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun State, Segun Showunmi, has criticised what he described as the persistent neglect and exclusion of persons living with disabilities across the state, calling for deliberate policy and budgetary intervention to address the situation.

Showunmi, who is also the convener of The Alternative Movement, made his position known in a statement shared on Monday, where he lamented that many residents with disabilities remain unable to fully participate in social and economic life due to structural and policy shortcomings.

He noted that despite their readiness to learn, work, and contribute to society, persons living with disabilities are often constrained by poor infrastructure, inaccessible public facilities, discriminatory employment practices, and limited access to healthcare.

According to him, the continued exclusion of this segment of the population is not only unjust but economically counterproductive, stressing that societies which fail to integrate persons with disabilities often experience reduced productivity, deepened poverty, and increased pressure on social welfare systems.

Showunmi argued that disability inclusion should be viewed as smart governance and a constitutional obligation, referencing Nigeria’s Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act, which mandates equal access and protection for persons with disabilities.

To address the challenges, the PDP chieftain disclosed that he has proposed an annual ₦1.9 billion disability inclusion budget for Ogun State, outlining specific allocations targeted at infrastructure, education, employment, healthcare, and digital access.

Under the proposal, ₦500 million is earmarked for accessibility and infrastructure upgrades, including retrofitting public buildings, constructing ramps, installing accessible toilets, and improving signage. Another ₦350 million is allocated to inclusive education, covering teacher training, learning aids, scholarships, and assistive devices.

He further proposed ₦300 million for employment-related initiatives such as vocational training, entrepreneurship grants, and incentives for employers, while ₦400 million would be directed toward healthcare services, rehabilitation, mobility aids, and hearing and visual support devices.

Digital and information access, including accessible government websites, sign language services, and emergency communication systems, would receive ₦150 million, while ₦200 million is set aside for maintaining a disability registry, monitoring implementation, and strengthening the Office for Disability Affairs.

Showunmi maintained that the proposed budget represents a modest fraction of the state’s annual expenditure but could have far-reaching and transformational effects, including increased school enrollment, improved workforce participation, reduced long-term welfare costs, and stronger compliance with national and international human rights standards.

He added that funding alone would not be sufficient, stressing the need to empower the Office for Disability Affairs with enforcement authority to ensure compliance across ministries, departments, and agencies, as well as guarantee the inclusion of persons with disabilities in policy formulation and monitoring.

Reacting to the proposal, the Ogun State Chairman of the Spinal Cord Injuries Association of Nigeria, Ayodele Awobona, commended Showunmi for articulating what he described as long-standing demands of the disability community.

Awobona noted that inclusive policies, when properly implemented, improve education outcomes, boost productivity, strengthen healthcare access, and ultimately enhance overall societal development.

Observers note that Showunmi’s advocacy comes amid growing political engagement ahead of the 2027 governorship race in Ogun State, with disability inclusion emerging as a key policy issue in public discourse. 

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