The Centre for Infrastructural and Technological Advancement for the Blind has urged the Federal Government of Nigeria to invest a significant portion of tax revenue into the disability community across the country.

The organisation said the investment should cover Nigerians living with visual, hearing, mobility, cognitive and psychosocial disabilities.

The call comes as new tax laws are scheduled to take effect from January 1, 2026.

CITAB made the appeal in a statement delivered by its Executive Chairman, Comrade Jolomi George Fenemigho.

In the statement, Fenemigho commended the Federal Government’s ongoing reforms aimed at strengthening revenue collection and easing the tax burden on low-income earners.

He, however, stressed the urgent need for specific tax revenue allocations to support social programmes and initiatives tailored to the diverse needs of persons with disabilities.

“Taxation is not solely about collecting resources, but about distributing them to uplift every citizen,” he stated.

“We call on the government to ensure that a share of these funds meaningfully supports all Nigerians with disabilities, whether by subsidizing assistive devices, improving accessible infrastructure, or investing in inclusive education and employment.”

Fenemigho noted that essential tools required by persons with disabilities remain largely inaccessible.

He said items such as wheelchairs, hearing aids, screen readers, communication devices and accessible public transportation are either prohibitively expensive or unavailable to many Nigerians with disabilities.

According to him, CITAB believes that dedicating tax revenues to comprehensive, government-backed subsidies and programmes would help remove these barriers.

He explained that such measures would promote greater independence, opportunity and participation for persons with disabilities across the country.

As part of its engagement on the 2026 tax framework, Fenemigho outlined several key recommendations.

One of the recommendations is the subsidisation of assistive technologies.

He proposed the introduction of a dedicated fund sourced from tax revenues to make a wide range of assistive technologies affordable and accessible.

These technologies include mobility aids, hearing and visual devices, communication tools and other support equipment for persons with disabilities.

Another recommendation is the full exemption of disability-related imports.

Fenemigho called for the complete removal of Value Added Tax and customs duties on all imported equipment, devices and adaptive technologies designed for persons with any form of disability.

He also emphasised the need for accessibility compliance across public services.

According to him, as government services and tax systems become increasingly digital and automated, all platforms, facilities and communication channels must be designed with accessibility in mind.

He said this is essential to accommodate people living with all types of disabilities.

Fenemigho further recommended incentives for inclusive employers.

He proposed tax credits and incentives for companies that provide accessible workplaces and demonstrate a clear commitment to hiring and supporting persons with disabilities, regardless of their specific needs.

Comrade Fenemigho added, “We applaud the exemption of Nigerians earning ₦800,000 or less from personal income tax, but we must also recognize the extraordinary cost of disability that millions face daily. By dedicating tax revenues to inclusive support for all persons with disabilities, the government invests not only in fairness, but in unleashing the full potential of every Nigerian. We are ready to build and contribute when we have equitable access to the right resources.”