by Hassan Muaz,
The Nigeria Association of the Blind (NAB), Abuja chapter, has sought employment of its members in government ministries and agencies as stipulated in the People with Disability Act.
Mr Kassim Lawal, Secretary-General of NAB FCT, made the request when he led other executive members of the association to the Federal Character Commission (FCC) headquarters in Abuja on Tuesday.
Lawal said many NAB members had resorted to begging on the streets due to hardship, and the association deemed it necessary to bring their plight to the commission to act.
He recalled that President Muhammadu Buhari had signed into law the “Discrimination Against Persons with Disability (Prohibition) Act, 2018.
Lawal added that there was need for FCC`s intervention as a monitoring agency to ensure the implementation of the Act by government agencies.
According to him, their visit is to bring to the knowledge of the commission, the violation of the act which has been signed into law.
“The wellbeing of the blind and other persons with disabilities can be improved
“In line with that, and as well as the Disability Rights Act which stipulates for 5 per cent allocations of employment for persons with disabilities, we deem it fit that we should meet with the commission for the interest of our members.
“We have come here today to see how the commission can better enforce this particular provision of the Act.
“The commission recruits its own staff, so on that basis we are asking for at least 5 per cent of representation for persons with disabilities in the work force of this commission,” Lawal said.
He urged the FCC as a monitoring agency, to ensure that Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) complied with the 5 per cent allocation of jobs provision.
Chairman of FCC, Dr Muheeba Dankaka said the visit by the NAB was a special courtesy visit among every other visit since she took over the office of the commission as chairman.
Dankaka said the commission had regard for people with disability and had been advocating proper representation of people with disabilities in federal establishments during its meetings with MDAs executives.
“The commission is aware that five per cent of total work force in federal establishments has been approved by Mr. President for persons with disabilities and the commission will not relent in enforcing it.
“I assure that all the issues raised today by your association will receive positive attention,” she said.
