TQM Report,
The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Haijah Sadiya Umar Farouk has called on other Ministries, Departments and Agencies to implement Presidential Directive at 64 independence day of allocating 10 percent to Persons with disabilities in all their programmes.
She made this call during the first National Disability Summit organized by National Commission for Persons with disabilities which is under her ministry.
She said that under ministry, she approved 10 percent out of 400,000 Batch C NPower candidates to be persons with disabilities which is 40, 000 persons with disabilities into Batch C stream of NPower.
She said that no fewer than one million Persons With Disabilities (PWDs) have so far been captured in the National Social Safety-Nets Coordinating Office (NASSCO) database and out of the enrolled Persons With Disabilities, 115,000 are currently receiving monthly stipends.
She also informed that over 500 PWDs were enrolled into the GEEP programme, they have already received their Point of Sale Machine and Seed Money.
“With one million PWDs in our NASSCO database, we presently provide about 115,000 with monthly stipends. Additionally, I approved the enrolment of 40,000 persons with disabilities into the batch C stream of the N-Power and through the GEEP programme, over 500 PWDs received their Point of Sale machines and seed money and have since commenced their businesses”.
“These strategies are aimed at providing access, inclusion and effective communication in mediums available and understood by Persons With Disabilities to broaden their knowledge and reduce their risk to shocks.”
She encouraged MDAs to implement the five percent employment opportunity enshrined in the National Disability Law.
While performing the formal launching of the First Edition of the National Sign Language Dictionary, urged Nigerians to adopt sign language as an alternative means of communication and she explained that the Dictionary will provide a harmonized and consistent understanding of signs of the Deaf, in Nigeria.
“I am pleased that the Commission has developed a National Sign Language Dictionary for Nigerians who use signing as a first language.
“As we work towards creating an inclusive environment for persons with disabilities, I encourage others to enhance their communication skills by learning and adopting sign language as an alternative means of communication.
Earlier in her speech, she expressed satisfaction with the level of progress made by NCPWD in less than 2 years in the office. She commended Mr. James David Lalu, the Executive Secretary of the Commission and his team for what she witnessed on wednesday when she visited the office for the first time.
“I am impressed with the level of work I saw yesterday when I commissioned National Disability Electronic Certificate Production Centre,
Mini Braille Printing Centre, National Disability Data Processing Centre and the accessible office accommodation”
She recommended and invite heads of MDAs to utilise the services provided by the Commission, especially the braille translation facility, to ensure that all Government policies and programmes are accessible for the blind”.
She commended the Inspector General of Police for approving the establishment of Disability Desks in all police formations across the federation to manage and minimize discrimination against persons with disabilities in the country and apply relevant punitive measures to curtail violence against the Disability community.
The Minister alongside Minister of Special Duties, George Akume who represented the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo launched a Disability Registration and Reporting system application, a 5-year Strategic Plan of the Commission from 2022 to 2026 which was supported by Sightsavers, an accessible website for the Commission, Production and distribution of the National Disability Certificate in compliance with section 22 of the Disability Act, the first-ever National Health Insurance Scheme for the first 600 beneficiaries and aisle wheelchair to enhance easy air travel experience of wheelchair users in our airports.
Senator George Akume in his speech said that the Commission is mandated to develop strategies to improve the lives of persons with disabilities.
He also said that as a government committed towards improving the lives and they are interested in introducing policies that will improves the lives of persons with disabilities.
He urged the PWDs to signify their interest in the ongoing housing system of the government which would be made accessible going by the guidance of the NCPWD founded by Federal Government.
He also said that FG is working assiduously to modify National Health Insurance Scheme to accomodate PWDs, so that specialists(Physiotherapists, Occupational therapist, Speech therapist) should queue into it under the supervision of NCPWD.
He called on MDAs to commence the implementation of 5percent of PWDs in the spirit of federal character and cautioned the agencies responsible for employment for FG to ensure that on no account will a person with disability would be denied employment on the basis of disability.
The Executive Secretary, National Commission for Persons alongside Abdullahi Usman Aliyu, Chairman, JONAPWD in their speeches described President Muhammadu Buhari as the first and only President to have elevated the disability community since the amalgamation of Nigeria, citing the signing the disability bill into law and establishment of the Commission.
They also commended the Minister for the role she played in the establishment of the Commission and the role she being played to ensure that the Commission stands and discharge their duties diligently.
“Over 31.5 millions Nigeria is pleased with you Mr. President, on behalf, I am thank you for giving hope back to us” Mr. James Lalu stated.
TQM report that some notable dignitaries that graced the event were Senator Tanko Al-Makura, Hon. Miriam Onuoha(house committee chairman on disabilities) Sen. Yusuf Abubakar (senate committee chairman on special duties), Hon. Minister of Women Affairs, Pauline Tallen
