Democracy fails without inclusion of persons with disabilities — ADC leader

By Henry Umoru

ABUJA — The National Leader of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) in the African Democratic Congress, Chike Okogwu, has said Nigeria’s democracy cannot be regarded as complete while millions of persons with disabilities remain excluded from opportunities, services and governance.

In a Democracy Day message titled “Democracy Without Access is Democracy Denied,” Okogwu lamented that many of the concerns he raised four years ago about the challenges facing PWDs remain unresolved.

He argued that the true measure of democracy lies in how it treats its most vulnerable citizens, noting that discrimination, exclusion and inaccessible public facilities continue to deny many Nigerians with disabilities the full benefits of democratic governance.

According to him, the worsening economic situation has disproportionately affected persons with disabilities, with rising food prices, transportation costs and medical expenses pushing many vulnerable households deeper into hardship.

Okogwu also expressed concern over the impact of insecurity on persons with disabilities, noting that they face unique risks during attacks, displacement and humanitarian emergencies because of inadequate disability-sensitive response systems.

The ADC chieftain identified unemployment as another major challenge despite the growing number of qualified and educated persons with disabilities. He attributed the situation to discrimination and inaccessible recruitment processes that continue to exclude many capable citizens from the workforce.

He further described unreliable electricity supply as a serious threat to the independence and wellbeing of many PWDs who rely on assistive devices, medical equipment and communication tools that require constant power.

On healthcare, Okogwu said many hospitals remain inaccessible, while rehabilitation services, assistive devices and sign-language interpretation are either unavailable or unaffordable, leaving many persons with disabilities without adequate care.

He also identified transportation and aviation as sectors requiring urgent reforms, noting that public transport systems, pedestrian infrastructure and many airport facilities still fall short of accessibility standards despite some improvements within the aviation sector.

The ADC disability leader warned against growing digital exclusion, saying government services, education and economic opportunities are increasingly moving online without adequate accessibility measures for persons with disabilities.

While acknowledging the existence of the Disability Act, Okogwu said implementation has remained weak, arguing that legislation alone is insufficient without visible improvements in the daily lives of those it is intended to protect.

He called on government, political parties, the private sector and civil society organisations to move beyond symbolic gestures and adopt policies that guarantee social protection, accessible healthcare, inclusive education, economic empowerment, transportation access and disability-sensitive security planning.

According to him, the ADC would prioritise the full implementation of disability rights, targeted social protection programmes, inclusive employment policies and accessibility standards across public institutions as part of its governance agenda.

“The more than 30 million Nigerians living with disabilities are not seeking charity but justice, equal opportunity and meaningful participation. Nigeria’s democracy will remain unfinished until inclusion becomes a reality for all citizens,” he said.

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