Edo govt gifts 18 seater bus, approves N60m as take off grant for PWDs

From Ighomuaye Lucky, Benin

Edo state governor, Monday Okpebholo has donated an 18 seater bus to the newly established commission for the persons living with disabilities to ease their logistical challenges in the state.

Okpebholo disclosed this at the 14th Rights Above Charity Lecture, jointly organized by the Network for the Advancement of People With Visible Disabilities (NAPVID), the Edo State Commission for Persons With Disabilities (ESCPD) and the Joint National Associations of Persons With Disabilities (JONAPWD), held in Benin.

The governor , represented by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Musa Ikhilor, said the gesture of the state governor was a pointer that he has their interest at heart and also an indication of better days ahead for the commission.

“Only yesterday, I believe or the day before, the governor graciously instructed that a Hiace bus be provided for the commission to ease its movement and activities.

“I believe that this is progress that we can say is very tangible, is indicative of better things to come. If this can be done in less than a year, we believe that the next three or four years will be way better. I understand that every government comes and does whatever it’s able to do. We appreciate that”, he said.

Speaking further, the SSG said the governor approved a provision of about N60 million for the commission as a take off grant in the supplementary budget when it was a amended.

“Now, I just want to make a comment about what the government is doing beyond implementation because the theme I understand is from establishment to effectiveness. We understand that it is sometimes very challenging when you start a commission or a project.

“As at the time we establish this commission, the budget had been passed because it wasn’t our budget and no provision was made for it.

“And we did some support from special intervention for the commission until later in the year we were able to pass a supplementary budget where the governor graciously approved a provision of about N60 million for the commission as a take off grant in the supplementary budget when it was a amended.

“And we have also supported the commission in its programmes, in its advocacy, as much as we can, working with minimal budget. We believe however that things will be better next year when we have planned to include proper budget through provision in the 2026 budget”, .

On the part of the Executive Director, Network for the Advancement of People With Visible Disabilities (NAPVID), Melody Omosah, said this year’s “Rights Above Charity discourse”From Establishment to Effectiveness: Making Inclusion the Heartbeat of Governance in Edo State” is both timely and strategic.

He said they are not just grateful for establishing the commission but are confident that the government will empower and strengthen it with the necessary resources to function adequately.

For the chairperson, JONAPWD, Ann Ojugo, said today’s event is a reminder that inclusion is not optional but a right and a foundation for a sustainable development.