The Leprosy Mission Nigeria (TLMN) has raised concerns over the continued underrepresentation of children with disabilities in government budgets, noting that this gap undermines inclusion, equity, and accountability.
The TLMN National Director, Dr. Sunday Udo, spoke on Tuesday during a media engagement organised by The Qualitative Magazine under the theme “Inclusive Budgeting for Children with Disabilities.”
Udo explained that the mission recently conducted a desk review of federal and subnational budgets from 2023 to 2025 to examine allocations specifically for children with disabilities.
He noted that most budgets make only general references to disability, health, education, and social welfare, without dedicated, trackable budget lines for children with disabilities.
“Our findings show that the health sector, under the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF), lacks specific budget indicators for children with disabilities,” Udo said.
“Parents often bear out-of-pocket costs because disability is treated broadly as a health challenge. Ministries with child protection mandates often lack sufficient fiscal authority, and broad programs fail to address the unique needs of children with disabilities.”
Udo urged governments to allocate specific, costed, and monitorable budget lines, stressing that exclusion becomes inevitable if children with disabilities are not clearly budgeted for.
Mr. Ayuba Gufwan, Executive Secretary of the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD), echoed the concern, noting that current budgets for persons with disabilities are grossly inadequate.
“One of the biggest challenges is securing appropriate budget allocations. We need budgets proportional to the disability population, with specific provisions for children,” he said, pledging the commission’s technical support to engage the government.
Mr. Mohammed Issa, Senior Special Adviser to the President on Special Needs and Equal Opportunity, commended TLMN for identifying gaps that limit inclusion. Represented by Mr. Lanre Oloyede, Director of Media and Communications, Issa emphasised that children with disabilities remain among the most marginalised and excluded groups in society, though government continues to advance the rights and protection of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs).
Mr. Agbo Christian, Executive Director of The Qualitative Magazine (TQM), called on the media to highlight the plight of children with disabilities to draw the attention of policymakers.
“The media plays a vital role in shaping public understanding, influencing policy priorities, and holding duty bearers accountable,” he said.
“Through accurate and inclusive reporting, budgeting processes at national and subnational levels can better reflect the realities, needs, and aspirations of children with disabilities.”