2027: Ikezue Pledges Disability-Inclusive Legislation, Welfare Programmes for Anambra Central
By Chizoba Njaka
Labour Party (LP) candidate for Anambra Central Senatorial District, Ven. Tochukwu Sagacious Ikezue, has pledged to make disability rights and inclusion a major focus of his legislative agenda if elected in the 2027 general election.
Speaking during an engagement with party supporters in Ogidi, Ven. Ikezue expressed concern over the challenges faced by persons living with disabilities (PWDs), noting that many continue to experience exclusion from education, healthcare, employment opportunities and public infrastructure.
He assured constituents that he would champion laws and programmes aimed at guaranteeing equal access to essential services and improving the overall welfare of people with disabilities across the senatorial district.
“I will push for laws and programmes that ensure PWDs can access education, health services, decent employment and public buildings without hindrance,” he said, adding that his proposed interventions would be developed through consultations with disability advocacy groups and affected communities.
The Labour Party candidate outlined key priorities of his disability inclusion agenda, including sponsoring legislation to strengthen the implementation of Nigeria’s disability policy, establishing an Anambra Central Disability Affairs Office to coordinate services, funding mobile rehabilitation clinics for rural communities, and promoting inclusive employment opportunities through partnerships with the private sector.
Ven. Ikezue also pledged to ensure that constituency projects are designed to accommodate persons with disabilities. According to him, public facilities would be retrofitted with ramps, accessible toilets and tactile signage to improve accessibility and inclusion.
He further emphasized the need for public enlightenment campaigns to combat stigma and discrimination against persons with disabilities, stating that community-based awareness initiatives would form part of his engagement strategy.
The senatorial hopeful noted that effective implementation of disability-focused policies requires adequate funding and accountability mechanisms. He therefore promised to advocate for dedicated budgetary provisions and monitoring frameworks to ensure that government commitments translate into tangible benefits for beneficiaries.
Quoting the disability rights slogan, “Nothing for us without us,” Ven. Ikezue assured that persons with disabilities and their representative organisations would be actively involved in policy formulation, programme implementation and periodic reviews of progress.
Stakeholders have long expressed concern over gaps in the implementation of disability inclusion policies, citing limited accessible infrastructure, inadequate rehabilitation services and high unemployment rates among persons living with disabilities.
As political activities ahead of the 2027 general election gather momentum, observers say Ven. Ikezue’s emphasis on disability inclusion has brought renewed attention to the concerns of persons with disabilities in Anambra Central. They note that the success of such commitments will ultimately depend on sustained legislative action, adequate funding and effective community engagement.