A group of Stakeholders With Disabilities from Different Political Affiliations on Wednesday in Abuja came under one umbrella organization known as Persons With Disability (PWD) Progressive Stakeholders Forum (PPSF) to advance the interest of persons with disabilities in the new administration across the States and Federal.
Barr. Yusuf Iyodo in declaring the meeting open said that the essence of bringing critical stakeholders in disability community together is to see how persons with disability can put pressure on the new administration across States and Federal to include persons with disability in governance.
Speaking further, he said that it is improper for disability community to have people of high caliber and still the community is not benefiting so much from the government.
He said that there is need for disability community to speak with one voice and make collective demand from the government for the benefits of the majority of persons with disability in Nigeria.
He also said that the group should put structure in place because there are so much to do now that appointments are being made.
One of the convener of the Forum, Comrade Mohammed Abba Isa said that the group is here to put more life to what TAF Africa, CARE and others are doing in promoting inclusive governance.
He said that it also required political solution which is what this group will be applying.
He said that persons with disability should be tired of being appointed as Special Adviser on Disability Matters.
“We should be appointed as Ministers, Director Generals and Executive Secretaries, Commissioners etc”.
He noted that it can be achieved if persons with disabilities can come together and form a formidable political group to continue to engage government and negotiate positions.
He reminded that persons with disabilities should be worried because inspite of the structure existing in APC for persons with disabilities, no person with disability were appointed as a member of the Transition Council.
PWD Progressive Stakeholders Forum (PPSF) is a movement for adequate and proactive disability inclusion in Nigeria’s political space, to influence political positions and promote accountability in governance.
It’s Objectives are:
To be a rallying point and unifying umbrella under which mainstream political interest of every member of the disability community can be channelled, recommended and pushed to actualisation.
To be a critical voice and purveyor of positive action poised to constructively, effectively and successfully challenge members and hold leaders in the community to probity and accountability.
To represent the conscience of the community in words and action.
To advocate for policy changes, lobby for gains of democracy, and ultimately to undertake the opening of political opportunities to members of the disability community.
At the meeting, members present unanimously adopted the following members to form the structure and begin to work towards achieving the above stated objectives.
- Hon. Mohammed Abba Isa, FIPMA, FCIPM
Chairman - Hon. Omopariola Busuyi Oluwasola
Co- Chairman - Dr. Chris Nwanoro
Vice Chairman - Barr. Idowu Abdulsalam
Secretary - Dr. Juliana Bebuo Diwa
Director Publicity
Secretariat
Barr. Yusuf Iyodo
Barr. Bolarinwa Salami
Barr. Zacchaeus Dare Michael
Mr. Chris Agbo (media)
Trustee
Ms. Omotunde Ellen Thompson
Hon. Tolu Bankole
Ayuba Gufwan
Patrons
Dr. Samuel Ankeli
Hon. Danjuma Attah
Dr. Chike Okogwu
Mr. David Anyaele
Hon. Rabi Yusuf
Hon. Rilwan Mohammed
Lois Auta
Abubakar Sharhu
Stanley Onyebuchi
Arome Daniel Ibrahim
