APC Chieftain Urges 75% School Fee Slash for Persons with Disabilities!

Reported by Marian Opeyemi Fasesan | Sele Media Africa

Hon. Tolu Bankole, a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Working Committee, is calling on the Federal and State Governments in Nigeria to reduce tuition fees for Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) by 75%, in a bid to increase educational access and reduce systemic exclusion.

What He Proposes

• Bankole argues that the financial burden of schooling disproportionately affects PWDs, and applying a large subsidy such as a 75% fee cut would alleviate one major barrier to learning.
• He frames the proposal within a moral and developmental context: inclusive education is a national imperative, not merely a perk.
• The proposal is intended to complement other policies such as free healthcare, assistance with assistive devices, and legislative protections.

Background & Related Advocacy

• Bankole has previously advocated for free education and healthcare for PWDs at the national level. [1]
• He has also called on local governments to appoint PWD supervisors to ensure better inclusion and oversight. [2]
• In recent statements, he has lamented the economic hardships facing PWDs, noting they are among the worst affected by inflation and weak safety nets. [3]

Why It Matters

• Nigeria’s inclusive education framework and the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act, 2018 both emphasize equal access. A 75% fee reduction could be a bold step toward fulfilling those mandates.
• However, implementing such a subsidy would require significant funding, budget realignment, and coordination between federal and state governments.
• The success of the measure would hinge on transparency, accountability, and ensuring the subsidy benefits the truly needy rather than being diverted.

What to Watch

• Responses from the Federal Ministry of Education and State Education Ministries on feasibility, cost, and implementation plan.
• Whether the proposal is introduced in legislative bills or budget proposals.
• Reactions from PWD advocacy groups, civil society, and media on whether 75% is sufficient, too much, or unrealistic.
• -Monitoring mechanisms to ensure subsidies reach PWD students and not be misapplied.

Citations:

1. Punch: punchng.com/apc-chieftain-urges-free-education-healthcare-for-pwds/?utm_source=chatgpt.com
2. Punch: punchng.com/appoint-supervisors-on-pwd-matters-apc-chieftain-begs-lg-chairmen/?utm_source=chatgpt.com
3. Punch: punchng.com/pwds-feeling-weight-of-economic-hardship-apc-chieftain-laments/?utm_source=chatgpt.com

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