By Bose Adelaja

Persons living with disability were supportive of the just concluded nationwide strike/protest called by the Nigeria Labour congress, NLC the Trade Union Congress, TUC and civil societies .

The disabled persons under the umbrella of Coalition for Disability Organisations, CODO used the strike to call on President Goodluck Jonathan to sign the Disability Bill into law.

In a statement signed in Lagos by CODO’s chairman, David Anyaele, the body said the removal of fuel subsidy will further worsen the plight of persons with disabilities in Nigeria.

Anyaele said the removal of fuel subsidy will also lead to increase in crime rate, family breakdown and abject poverty. His word: ‘’Poverty is the major cause of disability and vise versa. The cost of raising a child with disability will definitely increase ; a blind Nigerian will pay more than ever before to move around with his personal assistant, so also a person with mobility challenges”.

He lamented the non inclusion of persons with disability in the Subsidy Reinvestment’s Programme and called on President Goodluck to revert to the former pump price of N65 per litre.

“We witness the systematic exposure of Nigerians with disability to multiple disability through removal of petroleum subsidy. We witness the non-inclusion of Nigerians with disability in President Goodluck’s Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme as all projection on this programme are not disability friendly which is a complete violation of the rights of persons with disability, a blatant abuse of their dignity,” he said .