Cynthia Ezegwu
A member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Working Committee, Hon. Tolu Bankole, has called on the Federal Government and state governors to subsidise tuition fees for Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) by 75 per cent to promote inclusive education in Nigeria.
Bankole, who serves as the APC National Leader for Persons with Disabilities, made the appeal in a statement issued in Abuja on Sunday. He said the measure would encourage more parents, particularly those from low-income backgrounds, to send their children with disabilities to school.
His call follows the recent decision of the Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University of Lafia (FULAFIA), Prof. Shehu Abdul Rahman, to approve a 75 per cent reduction in school fees and provide free e-learning resources for students with disabilities.
Bankole commended the university’s initiative, describing it as “institutional foresight and empathy,” and urged both the Federal and State Governments to adopt FULAFIA’s model as a national standard.
“FULAFIA has gone beyond compliance—it has set a new national standard for inclusive education that prioritises access, equity, and dignity,” he said. “The Federal Government should immediately adopt FULAFIA’s policy as a national template. State governments should also domesticate similar measures through their respective Houses of Assembly to align with the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities Act.”
He also called for stronger collaboration between the two tiers of government and the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities to establish functional offices across the country to monitor compliance and support beneficiaries.
“With over 30 million Nigerians estimated to be living with one form of disability, inclusive education is no longer optional—it is essential,” Bankole stated. “A nation cannot claim to be progressive while excluding a significant segment of its population from access to opportunities. Inclusive education is not an act of charity—it is justice, equity, and a constitutional duty.”
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While commending President Bola Tinubu for his “commitment to inclusive governance under the Renewed Hope Agenda,” Bankole urged him to institutionalise the educational inclusion policy as a lasting legacy.
“By supporting and institutionalising this policy, the President will strengthen his legacy of fairness, justice, and genuine inclusivity for millions of Nigerians living with disabilities,” he added.
According to UNICEF and the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities, less than 10 per cent of children with disabilities in Nigeria currently have access to formal education, largely due to high tuition fees, inadequate infrastructure, and a shortage of trained special education teachers.