By Paul Effiong, Abuja
House of Representatives Committee on Persons With Disabilities has advocated tax exemption and waivers for members across the country.
Chairman of the committee, Bashiru Dawodu made the appeal yesterday during the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, by Persons with Disabilities, PWDs, at the National Assembly in Abuja.
The committee also called for tax relief for companies employing persons with disabilities or manufacturing facilities used by them.
According to Dawodu, the MoU has to do with talents discovery and development for PWDs within the area of creativity, in order to showcase their potentials and resilience and an inclusive musical concert.
The lawmaker informed that the endorsement of Disability Act by the previous government was good, just as he also called for urgent domestication of the Act across all states of the federation.
He, however, called for urgent amendment of certain parts of the Electoral Act to enable women, children, among others, to perform their civil duties during elections.
He disclosed that laws were underway to sanction discrimination against PWDs across the country.
The lawmaker said even though his committee was in full support of the tax reform bills, they are conscious of the loopholes in the bills and would be presenting their position at the public hearing, adding that his committee would be moving for tax credit and waivers for companies manufacturing equipment used by PWDs.
He also appealed to states that are yet to domesticate the law to do so in the interest of persons with disabilities living in those states, while lamenting the poor budgetary allocation to the Disability Commission.
He argued that the allocation of about N2 billion to the commission is suggestive of how government wants to treat persons with disabilities, saying the nation has fallen short of expectations, while emphasising the need for collaboration with NGOs and other organisations in advancing the course of PWDs in Nigeria.
Also speaking, a Director of PWDs Project, Valentine Zion disclosed that the MoU covered nationwide medical access support for persons with disabilities including providing support to PWDs in under served areas.
