The Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the President on Special Needs and Equal Opportunities, Hon. Mohammed Isa has advised Persons With Disabilities (PWDs) not to join the bandwagon of people protesting over the prevailing economic hardship in the country.
Isa made the call at a PWDs stakeholders consultative meeting held on Tuesday in Abuja.
He however assured members of the community that the President Bola Tinubu-led administration is actively working on providing palliatives to cushion the effects of the economic downturn.
He said, “I understand the challenges and hardships that many of you are facing, especially amidst the current economic difficulties in our country.
“I want to assure you that the government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is aware of your struggles and understands the difficulties many of you are enduring.
“However, I must tell you that the government of the day remains steadfast in its commitment to improving the standard of living for all citizens, particularly for Persons With Disabilities, in alignment with the Renewed Hope Agenda.
“I urge you to remain calm and patient during these trying times. While the road may seem tough now, I assure you that brighter days are ahead.
“The Renewed Hope Agenda is on course and working. I have strong belief that the policies and initiatives put in place by this government are aimed at yielding positive results in the long run. Your cooperation and support are invaluable as we navigate through these challenges together.
“I implore you not to resort to protests or join anybody or group to demonstrate against the government. Instead, I urge you to trust in the government’s intentions and efforts to alleviate your hardship”, he said.
The Presidential aide also urged leaders of disability groups to collate the names of their members for easy distribution of these palliatives.
“The office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Special Needs and Equal Opportunities will handle the distribution of these palliatives to deserving beneficiaries, including members of the disability community as they are released.
“To ensure an efficient and effective distribution process, I urge the heads of the different disability clusters here to collaborate with us by collating a comprehensive database of their members who will benefit from these palliatives. Your cooperation in this regard will greatly facilitate the smooth implementation of the program”, he added.
On his part, the Chief Responsibility Officer (CRO) of the Centre for Ability, Rehabilitation & Empowerment (CARE), Dr. Chike Okogwu, challenged the government to meet the 5 per cent statutory quota for PWDs by the National Disability Act by engaging members of the community to engender inclusiveness of all Nigerians irrespective of their status in the society.
“We need financial inclusion. Everybody wants to be wealthy. As the government and its agencies are giving out loans, they should remember us. We need transport. The present transport arrangement in the country did not favour members of this community.
“In keeping with the National Disability Act, the 5% persons of employment and appointment must go to PWDs. Every minister, governors and LG Chairmen as well as MDA must engage at least 5 per cent in employment and appointments of PWDs.
“Despite our disability, we know we are capable and we can do it, but please do not disappoint us, because there is so much strength in us.”
