The Accelerate Disability Inclusion in Emergencies Forum has urged President Bola Tinubu to revert the value-added tax from 7.5 per cent to five per cent by September 2023.
According to ADIE, preventing future increases in existing taxes, tariffs, and charges, as well as the introduction of new ones, would boost the buying power of Nigerians, particularly people with disabilities.
On May 29, 2023, the Federal Government eliminated its subsidy on premium motor spirit, generally known as petrol, leading to a significant increase in the price of the commodity.
According to the organisation, the withdrawal of fuel subsidies had caused enormous socioeconomic hardship for Nigerians, especially vulnerable groups like women, youths, and persons with disabilities, who together made up more than 80 per cent of the country’s estimated 216 million inhabitants.
Addressing a press conference on Monday in Abuja, the group, led by its Chairman, Grace Jerry, and Vice-Chairman, Christian Agbo, along with representatives from other civil society organisations, urged the President, to ensure that the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act was fully implemented, especially the five per cent employment quota for PWDs.
Jerry’s speech, which focused on the negative effects of the Federal Government’s policy of eliminating fuel subsidies on Nigerians, particularly PWDs, stated that, “the Federal Government should reverse the Value Added Tax from 7.5 per cent to five per cent by September 2023 and stop further increases in existing taxes, tariffs, and duties, as well as the introduction of new ones, for the next year to increase the purchasing power of Nigerians, especially PWDs.
“The Federal Government should ensure the full implementation of the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act, particularly the five per cent employment quota for PWDs, and encourage employers in the public and private sectors to implement workforce inclusion initiatives for people with disabilities, such as work-from-home options, flexible schedules, accessible workplaces, etc.
