The Federal Government has been urged to exempt persons living with disabilities (PWDs) in Nigeria from paying taxes, considering their efforts and struggles to earn a living in a country that is going through a difficult time.

The House of Representatives Committee on Disability Matters made the appeal to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Tuesday in Abuja.

The Chairman of the Committee on Disability Matters, Bashiru Dawodu (APC, Lagos), made the appeal in Abuja during the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) by PWDs and a non-governmental organisation, PWDs Potential Unhinged Project.

Dawodu, who emphasised the committee’s support for the tax bills, noted that “loopholes exist in the draft bills, particularly the absence of tax credits and waivers for companies manufacturing equipment used by persons living with disabilities.”

According to Dawodu, “Teachers involved on special education should be encouraged through scholarships, while a Disability Trust Fund should be put in place to take care of the interests of PWDs.

“We need tax exemption for people living with disabilities. The 2018 Disability Act, which has a five-year moratorium, is not being diligently implemented by agencies of government and the private sector.”

He added that the House was working on amending the law to impose more stringent penalties for violation.

Dawodu listed some of the provisions of the Act to include creating easy access to public buildings, creating easy access into bus and rail terminals, as well as easy access to education and health facilities.

According to the Lagos lawmaker “The law provides that during employment, at least five per cent of employment should be reserved for persons with disabilities.

“Even after the creation of the Disability Commission, the Disability Act is yet to be domesticated in several states across the country with only 22 states so far domesticating the Act.”

Dawodu added: “States that are yet to domesticate the law should do so in the interest of persons with disabilities living in those states. Again, the budgetary allocation to the Commission is grossly inadequate.

“The allocation of about N2bn to the Disability Commission is suggestive of how the government wants to treat persons with disabilities. This is short of expectations.”

Dawodu, who disclosed that the Disability Act is currently being amended to ensure stiffer penalties, noted that the current law does not provide for women and children with disabilities.

The Lagos lawmaker said that the House has passed several motions to ensure enforcement of the Act.

Affirming that the Committee was inviting government’s agencies to show evidence of implementation of the Disability Act, Dawodu called for the amendment of the Electoral Act to ensure easy access to voting and political participation by PWDs.

The  lawmaker stressed the need for collaboration with non-governmental organisations and other bodies to advance the course of PWDs.

He noted that with over 35 million Nigerians living with disability, the affected persons can no longer be ignored.

Director of the PWD’s Potential Unhinged Project, Valentine Zion said the MoU covers a nationwide medical access support initiative for persons with disabilities.