The National Commission for Persons with Disability, NCPWD, has commenced the process of data gathering for the 31million Nigerians living with disabilities.
The Executive Secretary of the commission, James Lalu, disclosed this during a briefing on the economic effect of post-COVID-19 on persons with disabilities in Abuja. He noted that the data collation will be carried out in the 36 states of the federation and the FCT.
He added that the collation will begin with persons with disabilities from the grass root in every state down to the urban cities. The goal of the commission is to bridge the gap by ensuring the inclusiveness of persons with disabilities in government activities and for them to contribute to national development.
Mr Lalu also gave the number of persons with disabilities in the country so far as 31 million. He said the intervention of the government through the commission is just the beginning.
According to him, this is part of the promises made by President Muhammadu Buhari to lift 100 million Nigerians out of poverty in the next 10 years.
The criterion used is to ensure total inclusion of persons with disabilities in all government appointments, including the 774 local government areas of the country.
