TAF Africa Team in their continues campaign known as Able to Serve for Inclusive Governance, embarked on advocacy visit to People’s Democratic Party (PDP) National Headquarters to advocate for the appointment of persons with disabilities(PWDs) in governance at the National, Sub-national cabinet.
The advocacy visit which was targeted to National Working Committee of the Party was led by Amb. Jake Epelle, founder and CEO of TAF Africa on Thursday in Abuja.
Amb. Epelle in his speech appealed to the leadership of the party to strengthen the internal democracy of the party to accommodate the disability community because they have what it takes to be part of a participatory democracy.
He also explained the objective of the Campaign and the need for the leadership of the party to commit to ensuring that governors elected under the platform of the party appoint PWDs to serve as members of the cabinets in their various states.
The Acting PDP National Chairman, Amb. Umar Iliya Damagum in his response commended TAf Africa for all they do towards entrenching disability inclusion in every sphere and called on PWDs to join the PDP as the environment for PWDs to aspire for any elective or appointive position has already been created.
He said it is already enshrined in the party constitution to have a percentage of PWDs as delegates, party members and the rights to contest for any position from National down to the ward level.
The National Women Leader, Prof Stella Effah-Attoe retorted that PDP structure accommodates PWDs at all levels and provides a level playing ground for everyone in the spirit of inclusivity.
She assured TAF Africa Team that the NWC will come up as a pressure group to push for the inclusion and political appointment of PWDs at National and Sub-national cabinets.
Present at the meeting were some members of NWC, Deputy National Secretary, Hon. Setoji Kosheodo, National Treasurer, Hon. Ahmed Mohammed,
Yayari, National Publicity, Hon. Debo Ologunaga, National Women Leader, Prof Stella Effah-Attoe and the acting National Chairman, Amb. Umar Iliya Damagum.
Able to Serve is a campaign that focuses on developing sustainable and transformative strategies to push for inclusion of PWDs in appointive position available at at the various levels of government to set the stage for integration of disability inclusion within the government in Nigeria.
