Oyo govt approves over 70% budget increase for PWDs

The Oyo State Government has increased the 2025 capital budget allocation for persons with disabilities by over 70 percent compared to what they received in 2024.

The Oyo State Governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde, disclosed this in Ibadan during the celebration of the 2024 Stakeholders’ Summit and International Day of Persons with Disabilities.

Makinde, represented by his deputy, Bayo Lawal, spoke about how the government has progressed in its efforts to support the welfare of the disability community under his administration.

He declared that all the requests made by persons with disabilities for next year’s budget, as submitted during the recent Budget Town Hall meetings, contributed to the increase in their capital budget to N877,500,000.

The governor explained that their capital budget was initially N492,000,000, while the Oyo State Agency for Persons with Disabilities’ overhead cost has risen from N315,000,000 to N345,000,000.

“It is believed that these funds will address their requests, which include transportation empowerment, training of relevant agencies on their roles for persons with disabilities, training of enforcement agencies for compliance, the purchase of assistive devices, mobility equipment, among others.”

The governor also stated that Oyo State has recruited 510 persons with disabilities into the state’s civil service.

He added, “I have also given the directive that henceforth, in every ministry, the quota for persons with disabilities must be protected.”

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Makinde recalled that upon assuming office on May 29, 2023, he appointed Barrister Ayodele Adekanmbi as the pioneer Director-General of the Oyo State Agency for Persons with Disabilities and Mr. Timothy Olufemi as the Executive Assistant to the Governor on Disability Matters to ensure that people living with disabilities are included in governance.

He said, “When God granted me the grace of a second term, I reappointed Barrister Adekanmbi, this time as the Pioneer Director-General of the Oyo State Agency for Persons with Disabilities. I also gave him the mandate to draw up a budget for the Agency, find a suitable and conducive office, and oversee the redeployment of staff to launch the Agency for persons with disabilities. I am pleased to inform you that all of these tasks have been completed within 1 year and 6 months of Omituntun 2.0.”

He continued, “Currently, as we speak, grants and subventions for disability cluster groups have been approved, and in the near future, three operational vehicles will be delivered to facilitate the smooth running of the Agency for Persons with Disabilities.”

Speaking further, Governor Makinde said, “It is on record that I am the first governor to politically empower persons with disabilities by appointing them as Supervisory Councillors and Special Assistants across all local governments in Oyo State, which has made us stand out as an all-inclusive government throughout the country.”

The Director-General of the Oyo State Agency for Persons with Disabilities, Barr. Ayodele Adekanmbi, earlier remarked that the administration of Governor Seyi Makinde is genuinely committed to providing opportunities for people living with disabilities (PwDs).

“The agency has continued to receive all the necessary support from the administration to ensure that PwDs are included. Since the inception of Governor Seyi Makinde’s administration, there have been several deliberate initiatives to improve access to governance and the quality of service for persons with disabilities,” he said.