The Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD) has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Barr. Nyesom Wike, to look into the establishment of the FCT commission for persons with disabilities (PWDs).
At a press conference, Thursday in Abuja, the North Central Zonal Coordinator of JONAPWD, Comrade Mike Maikumo Gideon, said the establishment of the FCT commission for PWDs will serve as a platform for advocacy, protection of rights, and facilitation of inclusive policies and programs.
He said it is important that a Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the FCT Minister on Special Needs and Equal Opportunities be appointed as it will help to speedily facilitate the creation of the Commission and also arrest the influx of PWDs from different states into the FCT for begging.
He said: “As it stands, individuals with disabilities face numerous challenges in our society, including but not limited to lack of accessibility, discrimination, limited educational and employment opportunities, and social stigma. The absence of a dedicated commission in the FCT to address these issues exacerbates the marginalization faced by persons with disabilities, hindering their full participation and integration into society.
“Therefore, we call upon the President, His Excellency, Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the FCT Minister, His Excellency Barr. Nyesom Wike, to swiftly establish the FCT Commission for Persons with Disabilities to serve as a platform for advocacy, protection of rights, and facilitation of inclusive policies and programs. This commission will be instrumental in addressing the needs of persons with disabilities, ensuring their voices are heard and promoting their empowerment and well-being.
“Similarly, it is also important that a senior special assistant to the FCT minister on special needs and equal opportunities be appointed. This will help to speedily facilitate the creation of the commission.
“We’ll also like to seize this opportunity to call on the President and the national assembly to appropriate reasonable funds to the national commission. This will help it to meet the yearnings of PWDs nationwide, thereby reducing the influx of PWDs from different states into Abuja just to beg.
“We call on the FCT administration to urgently look into the existing FCT rehabilitation centers, with a view to making them conducive for different skills acquisition. This will automatically take PWDs away from the streets.”
He added: “The commission will work to raise awareness about the rights, capabilities, and contributions of persons with disabilities to promote a more inclusive and understanding society.
“It will collaborate with relevant stakeholders to develop and implement policies that promote accessibility, inclusion, and equal opportunities for persons with disabilities in the FCT.
“The commission will provide supportive services, including assistance with education, employment, healthcare, and social integration, to enhance the quality of life for individuals with disabilities.
“The commission will monitor the implementation of disability-related initiatives, evaluate their effectiveness, and make recommendations for continuous improvement and accountability.
“We appeal to State governors to ensure that issues of PWDs in their respective states are given utmost priority. This will also ensure that PWDs get good treatment in their states, thereby discouraging them from migrating into Abuja for street begging.
“We are aware that the Abuja Environmental Protection Board Act prohibits street begging. Also, the Discrimination Against Persons With Disabilities (Prohibition) Act, 2018 discourages street begging. Therefore, as an association, we do not encourage it at all. We support the government to ensure that our people (PWDs) embrace dignified means of earning a living.
“However, we encourage the government as a matter of necessity to ensure that these PWD beggars are profiled, rehabilitated, trained and integrated into the society with better skills and means of earnings to contribute to nation building. This is why the FCT commission for persons with disabilities has to be established Immediately.
“Let me at point say a big thank you to all those individuals and organizations that have supported and are still going to support us all through until this feat is achieved.
“In conclusion, the establishment of the ICT Commission for Persons with Disabilities is not just a matter of obligation; it is a testament to our commitment to upholding the principles of equality, dignity, and social justice for all members of our society. Let us unite in our efforts to create a more inclusive and accessible FCT where persons with disabilities can thrive and contribute meaningfully to our collective progress.”
Also speaking, a youth advocate in the FCT, Hon. Yunusa Ahmadu Yusuf, said states like Kogi, Plateau and Nasarawa have such a commission, hence it will be appreciated for the creation of the commission to be announced on December 3, being the commemoration of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD).
He said: “A person who is able today can be disabled tomorrow. God has not finished his creation and no one is useless. The PWDs should be considered in our national budget. We have skills acquisition centers in FCT, but nothing is working.
“The NCPWD Act stipulates that 5 per cent of job opportunities should be given to PWDs, but they’re not being employed by organizations. It is a discouraging development that should be looked into.
“Therefore, on the 3rd of December being the commemoration of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, we want the FCT Minister to make the announcement about the creation of FCT commission for PWDs. It will go a long way to assuage our feelings.
“It is not a duplication of the activities of NCPWD because this is for the FCT. We already have such commission in states like Kogi, Plateau and Nasarawa. We want to have in FCT, then move to other states in the North Central region like Venue, Kwara and Niger. It is not too much to ask.”
