Abuja, Jan. 22, 2025 (NAN) Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD) has called for the inclusion of Persons With Disabilities (PWDs) in political party structures and candidature process, ahead of the 2027 general elections.
National President of the association, Mr Abdulllahi Usman, who stated this on Thursday in Abuja, acknowledged the progress so far made in expanding electoral access across the country.
Usman said that the efforts being made by government and relevant stakeholders had reflected growing recognition of the political rights of PWDs.
He, however, highlighted significant gaps that should be addressed, as Nigeria approaches the 2027 general elections.
“There is need for training and capacity-building of electoral staff on disability inclusion, accessible voter education, voter registration and continuous voter participation.
“There is need for inclusion of PWDs in political party structures and candidature processes, disability-responsive campaign practices and accessible political communication.
“There is need to address political finance barriers affecting aspirants and candidates with disabilities, physical, communication and attitudinal accessibility of polling units on election day,” he said.
The JONAPWD national president also called for protection of voting secrecy, dignity and independence for all voters with disabilities, adding that post-electoral participation, representation and redress mechanisms should also be guaranteed.
He reaffirmed the commitment of the association to engaging INEC, political parties, security agencies, civil society organisations (CSOs) and development partners for fully-inclusive elections.
On the new tax laws, Usman called for zero value added tax (VAT) on all assistive devices, mobility aids and adaptive technologies for PWDs.
He also advocated for tax exemptions or significant reductions on medical drugs and consumables associated with disability-related conditions.
Usman recommended corporate tax incentives for employers who intentionally recruit, retain and accommodate PWDs as well as removal of import duties on assistive technologies, rehabilitation equipment and accessibility-related hardware.
The JONAPWD president, however, threatened legal actions against individuals and groups using the name, logo, insignia or any other related branding of the association without approval.
According to him, unauthorised use of JONAPWD’s branding constitutes a violation of intellectual property and organisational governance provisions, and may attract appropriate legal actions.
“This measure is aimed at safeguarding institutional integrity, preventing misrepresentation, ensuring accountability and protecting the credibility of the disability movement in Nigeria,” he said.(NAN)
