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By Elvis Omoregie, Benin
The Edo State Disability Forum (EDF) yesterday called on the government at all levels to see to the plight of persons living with disabilities (PWDs) following the removal of fuel subsidies, stressing the need for inclusive and sustainable programs and policies on the part of the Edo State government to mitigate the impact of fuel subsidy removal on PWDs living in Edo.
Convener of the Edo Disability Forum (EDF), Melody Omosah Esq., made the call in Benin during a press briefing with the theme, “Mitigating the Impact of Fuel Subsidy Removal on Persons with Disabilities: The Need for an Inclusive and Functional Social Protection Mechanism.”
Omosah, who is also Executive Director of the Network For the Advancement of People with Visible Disability (NAPVID), lamented the adverse impact of the removal of fuel subsidy policy on persons with disabilities (PWDs), saying it is particularly severe as persons with disabilities grapple with heightened vulnerability in the absence of adequate social protection mechanisms.
He said the forum is drawing the attention of the government of Edo State to the predicament of persons with disabilities and to urge policymakers, stakeholders, and the public to rally behind the course of persons with disabilities and to take collective action to ensure that no one is left behind in the wake of the changes.
Omosah, who noted that PWDs are three times more disadvantaged and disproportionately affected by the removal of fuel subsidies, added that the removal of fuel subsidies is fostering inequality and inequity against PWDs and is further limiting their inclusivity and opportunities.
“It is no longer news that the recent removal of fuel subsidies by the Federal Government has triggered an unprecedented surge in the cost of living, affecting the lives and livelihoods of Nigerians. What may be news is that the adverse impact of this policy on persons with disabilities (PWDs) is particularly severe, as they grapple with heightened vulnerability in the absence of adequate social protection mechanisms.
“The pronouncement by Mr. President immediately resulted in an astronomical hike in the amount of PMS, or fuel, and, concomitantly, the price of goods and services. This in general has reduced the purchasing power of Nigerians and has particularly exacerbated the lives and livelihoods of PWDs, as any sudden disruption to a person’s social, economic, and political life heightens the vulnerability of persons with disabilities.
“Currently, the estimated 675,000 PWDs in Edo State are groaning under the weight of the removal of subsidies on fuel by the Nigerian government, as no functional social protection mechanism has been specifically put in place to ensure their survival. Sadly, this has further increased their vulnerability, leading to an endless cycle of poverty and disability.”
