At the Roundtable dialogue for inclusive governance organized by the National Institute for Legislative Studies in Abuja, today 7th November, 2023, the Executive Secretary, National Commission for Persons With Disabilities, Mr. James David Lalu urged political office holders to look out for Persons with Disabilities who have the capacity to deliver on the mandates of their organizations.
Mr. Lalu seized the occasion to Inform the meeting about the provisions of the 2018 Disabilities (Prohibition) law which provides for 5% representation of PWDs across government Agencies.
“I want to implore you all to encourage your colleagues in the National Assembly not to pay lip service to the welfare of Persons with Disabilities but, to endeavor to get them engaged” he said.
While commending NILDS for recognizing the impact of the Commission over 35 million Persons with Disabilities across Nigeria, the ES described the gesture as a course with sincerity of purpose.
He also hinted that many people still do not know that the community of Persons with Disabilities has such a huge population and can be a powerful force in terms of elections and economic stimulus.
Earlier in his address, the Director General, NILDS, Professor Abubakar Sulaiman expressed the resolve by the Legislative House to underpin the importance of the inclusions of women with Disabilities in political participations by political Parties in Nigeria.
“Women help in the building of homes which eventually culminate into a better society. Today we are proud of Professor Ngozi Okonjo Iweala who stands tall as a prominent figure at the World Bank after serving as a Minister under the Obasanjo administration, tomorrow if given a favourable chance a woman with disabilities could surpass that height” he asserted.
The DG equally promised to always stretch hands of fellowship to the Commission at every event for proper representations of Persons with Disabilities.
JohnMichaels I. Mbanefo
Head Press and Public Relations Unit, NCPWD
7th November, 2023
