The Board of Trustees of Joint National Association of Persons with disabilities (JONAPWD) has expressed disappointment over the omission of over 31million Nigerians with disabilities in the list of ambassadorial appointments released on Tuesday by President Muhammadu Buhari.
In a press release signed by the Chairman of JONAPWD BOT, Prince Paul Adelabu. He thanked Mr President for the list of ambassadorial appointments sent to the Senate of the Federal republic of Nigeria for screening but he expressed shock when the umbrella organisation observed that there is no single person with disability in this long list and may wish to ask if government who signed disability right bill is discriminating against persons with disabilities on account of disability. The body equally observed that government did not consult persons with disabilities for their own nominees as a constituent groups whose population is more than many of the states in Nigeria .
BOT of JONAPWD therefore demand that the Senate put this list on hold pending necessary action is taken on inclusion of at least one person with disability in the list of Ambassadors to represent Nigeria in our oversees mission offices. “We want to state that Jonapwd has many qualified persons who has exemplary knowledge of international relations as professional and represent Nigeria very well”, they indicated.
The body believes that it is purely an error of omission from the ministry of external affairs as President Buhari is 100% disability friendly. If the youth and women are represented why not persons with disabilities. An adage says equality through participation. Our motto is nothing for us without us. They have no doubt that Mr President will look into this very important issue that will justify the disability law signed by Mr President on equal rights and non discrimination as they urge him to retrieve the list from the Senate and include at least a person with disability before the approval from the Senate.
