TQM report,
Nigeria Association of the Blind (NABFCT) chapter paid an Advocacy visit to the National Directorate of Employment NDE to seek inclusion of PWDs in the programme of the agency.
The visit is part of the group’s project on (Access to Employment for PWD’s in FCT) supported by Disability Rights Fund (DRF).
The project Lead of the group, Mr. Obinna Ekujereonye in his remark said that over 30 million Nigerians who are persons with disabilities as estimated, majority of them don’t get job when they are out of school. This has forced a great number of them to engage in street begging, organization of persons with disabilities are not in support of street begging but those indulging in it is out of frustration.
President Buhari in his kindness signed Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act, 2018 and section 29 of the Act, stated that 5% employment opportunities would be given to PWDs. The compliance level on this has been so low and it call to question, if the President should be passionate about the alleviating the sufferings of PWDs, why are MDAs not following suit.
He called on the society to give PWDs the needed attention because disability can happen to anybody at any time and when you are aging is also one major cause of disability therefore, the disability issues should be business of all.
“In the spirit of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) which says LEAVE NO ONE BEHIND, PWDs are demanding that they are considered in all employment opportunities and in all policies and programmes of the government” he added.
The group demanded that 5% employment opportunity be given to PWDs, modify their office to be accessible for wheelchair users and ensure reasonable accommodation to ensure that PWDs have conducive work environment.
The Executive Director, The Qualitative Magazine (TQM), Mr. Chris Agbo added that there is need for disability desk officer be created in NDE to foster relationship between NDE and disability community.
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The Director General, NDE, Mallam Abubakar Nuhu Fikpo in his response said that long before now, NDE has paid special attention to Women and PWDs.
“NDE has provided a window for PWDs to partake in programmes and schemes of NDE long before enactment of Disability Act. Whether or not, it is publicized, PWDs are aware of it is what we are not sure of, but NDE has PWDs in mind because life is not easy for people without disabilities talk more of PWDs” he added.
We have vocational, technical and so many other skills that PWDs can benefit from, we will look at our programmes and schemes and see how we can absolved PWDs in them, Meanwhile, based on your request, I will delegate the officer that you have been liaising with to serve a disability desk officers in NDE that would be interacting with PWDs and share information with disability community to ensure that PWDs can benefit from all programmes and schemes of NDE? he concluded.
TQM learnt that NDE as a strategic organization if PWDs can access all the programmes and schemes, a lot of PWDs would be well engaged.
NAB FCT ensured that other clusters of disabilities were represented at the advocacy visit.
