by Chris Agbo
The Association of Applicants/Workers with Disability in Nigeria on Saturday 14th November, 2020 in Abuja organized her 7years Anniversary/Award Presentation and Bus launch.
The founder and the President of the Association, Godstime Onyegbunam in his opening remark said that the association came into being 7 years ago as a result of discrimination applicants with disabilities faced while searching for employment at the civil service. He narrated that it all started from the frustrations most of them were facing at the at Federal Civil Service Commission when they would always refer persons with disabilities to Head of Service to obtain waiver before they can be employed. They were continually denied the waiver and many of them were frustrated out seeking for employment.
Speaking further, he said that the frustration continued for years before persons with disabilities came together and formed a group instead of approaching it individually, we decided to approach it collectively. In 2013, they had their first protest at Head of Service. They equally went to Aso Villa to protest, and it was at that the presidency allocated 176 slots of employment for persons with disabilities.
After then, they continued, took their protest to National
Assembly to support the call for the passage of National Disability Bill and graciously,
President Buhari in January 2019 signed the bill into law which gave them a
legal standing especially in the area of employment where they focus on.
According to him, they have been recording success by sensitizing the government agencies on what the law says and the need for them to comply. Those who didn’t see reasons to comply, we normally take peaceful protest to their office to remind them and get them to comply. So far, they have not witness any violence and they have succeeded in securing employment for numerous persons with disabilities in different governmental agencies. With these achievements, he said that they have challenges which ranges from funding, they are self-funded, members are contributing to success of the association.
“Mobility is one of our greatest challenge and that is why we put together this event to source for funds to acquire a bus to ease our movement especially during our advocacy outings. Another is funding because over 90 percent of our members live outside Abuja, so it is difficult bringing them to Abuja whenever we are to engage agencies, people and organizations should come to rescue in the area of funding to further advance our cause” he said.
He called on the governmental agencies to make things easier for them by complying to the 5percent employment opportunity stipulated at the Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act 2018.
The event witnessed the Drama presentation by members of the Association showcasing discrimination they faced while searching for job and why workers should think about the future before they discriminate against applicants with disabilities.
The Association presented awards to some deserving organizations and individuals who have in one way or the other helped the association in the last 7 years.
Some of the agencies represented at the event were Ministry of Labour and Productivity, NDIC, Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Nigeria Police and many others.
Some Pictures of the event:
