News
FG set to implement 5% job opportunities for persons living with disabilities
The Federal Government has expressed readiness to implement the law mandating Five per cent of jobs at both private and public sectors are allocated to people living with disabilities.
Minister of Labour and Productivity, Dr. Chris Ngige, who made this disclosure weekend in Abuja said service wide circular to all the ministries and parastatals by next week.
Already, the Minister said to the cheering applause of the over 1,000 persons living with disabilities at the event that he has given agencies under his ministry clear directives toward the implication of the policy.
Ngige, who spoke during the 16th anniversary celebration of KPAKPANDO Foundation for persons living with disabilities, said implimenting such policy is another major policy with which the government of President Buhari was ensuring inclusivity in government.
Dr Ngige said that the Federal Government was totally committed to making life more meaningful to the less privileged people in the society.
He said the Labor ministry would also support the Kpakpando Foundation in providing materials and cash for persons with disabilities.
The Minister commended Senator Osita Izunaso Founder of Kpakpando Foundation for his consistency in supporting and funding the wellbeing of persons with disabilities for the past 16 years.
Governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi who was the Chairman of the occasion which attracted dignitaries and a host of government functionaries and politicians, disclosed that the state had signed into law the Disability Act and also subscribed the 5l% employment inclusion.
Feyemi added that the state did not only signed the Act but has also established an office for disability commission and populated it with technology equipment.
He said Ekiti State had also set up disability Council to manage their Affairs, noting that the State would continue to commit to achieve succeful inclusiveness.
He added that the state has also set up an ultra moden Center for people with Disabilities, saying it is not only they are conciuson of the effort of the Foundation but be supportive of the proces of disability but insist on the change of the policy for the better.
He commended the efforts of the Foundation for keeping the hope of the disabilities alive and Working hard on the objectives of programs of the Foundation expecially in achieving the 5% employment inclusion.
Governor Fayemi who after his speech officially unveiled the give away prices, and donations such as generations, fans, free medical outreach, disabilities equipment and many more also donated five million naira for the upliftment of PWDs.
The occasion also attracted about 3,000 of challenged people drawn from across the nooks and crannies of the federation many of who benefited from gifts and scholarships donated by the foundation.
The wife of Senator Isah Jibrin (Echocho), Hajia Aishat has offered cash and food items worth millions of naira to widows and vulnerable women across Dekina local government Councils, promises to take similar gesture across the nine local government in Kogi East.
The exercise which was tagged: “Widows Empowerment”, saw the Senator’s wife distributing cash and food items to cushion the effect of Ramadan.
Items distributed are bags of rice bags of salt, cartons of seasoning, maggi etc, which were evenly distributed to widows and vulnerable women across party lines.
A beneficiary who spoke with our correspondent at Odu in Dekina Local Government Council, Hon Fitumi thanked Hajia for her continuous effort in coming through for widows and vulnerable regularly.
She acknowledged similar gesture by Senator Isah Jibrin (Echocho), a fortnight ago at Ankpa when youths in their numbers from three Local Government Areas were trained in Agriculture and empowered, stressing that people are now living testimony to the effort of the lawmaker.
“”We are aware of several intervention projects, empowerment and developmental projects of Senator Echocho and we are not surprised seeing Hajia toeing the similar path.
“The distribution of food items and cash today is not only a rekindling of hope to the beneficiaries, but an encouragement that despite their condition, they were not forgotten.
Hajia Labran, and other APC Women leaders who spoke on behalf of women, applauded Hajia Aisha Echocho and pray Allah to strengthen her to carry on, urged others to emulate her sustainable initiatives.
The women advised other political office holders to emulate what is good and just, which they believed would strengthen the party.
As part of the activities to celebrate the golden anniversary of the University of Calabar, the wife of the President of the Senate, Mrs Ekaette Unoma Godswill Akpabio was on Saturday, March 22, 2025 conferred with an honorary doctorate degree in Education Management.
The ceremony held at the main campus of the institution in Calabar, Cross River State also saw the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Chief Nyesom Wike awarded the honorary doctorate degree in Law.
Other awardees included Major General Moses Bisong Obi (rtd) (Doctor of Peace and Conflict Studies) and Supreme Court Justice, Emmanuel Akomaye Obi (Doctor of Law).
In her acceptance speech after the conferment by the 15th Emir of Kano and Chancellor of the University, Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero, the wife of the Senate President, Mrs Akpabio thanked the Governing Council and Management of the University for finding her worthy of the honour.
A statement by the Special Assistant on Media/communication to the President of the Senate, Anietie Ekong quoted Mrs Akpabio as saying “I am happy to be honoured with this award from the prestigious University of Calabar that I have heard so much about from my dear husband, an alumnus of this great institution.
“I was wondering when I will join him as a great Malabress and that day has come and I am grateful to the University for this honour,” she said.
Mrs Akpabio promised to work with other awardees especially the Minister of the FCT to provide infrastructural assistance to the university.
In a citation the University extolled Mrs Akpabio for her philanthropic and humanitarian efforts towards uplifting the lives of women and the vulnerable of the society through her non governmental organisation, the Family Life Enhancement Initiative.
She was also recognized as a Champion of women’s rights and as one who used her position as the First Lady of Akwa Ibom State to fight for the inclusion of more women in governance.
On his part, Chief Wike said he was honoured to be among the recipients of award. He extolled the Visitor of the University, President Bola Tinubu for working tirelessly to promote tertiary education in the country.
Ex-President Goodluck Jonathan has expressed disappointment over the declaration of State of emergency in Rivers State, saying it discredits Nigeria’s image.
The declaration by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has sent Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara packing for six months, while the elected members of the State House of Assembly have also been suspended.
Jonathan stated this while speaking as the Chairman at the Haske Satumari Foundation Colloquium in Abuja on Saturday.
He said elected officials have been removed from office in a very disappointing manner.
Contrary to Jonathan’s view however, the New Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP, expressed support for Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers.
The party said no responsible government will allow a situation to deteriorate before taking decisive action in the best interest of its citizens.
NNPP National Chairman, Dr. Agbo Major, told newsmen: “President Tinubu is the Chief Security Officer of Nigeria.
“The information available to him as president from intelligence sources may not be in the public purview.
“The government in Rivers was suspended and no one can actually say what would have happened by now, judging from the deepening crisis.
“The crisis was further compounded by some leaders who, instead of offering advice or promoting peace during the turmoil, allowed it to escalate before later stepping in to criticize.”
But for President Jonathan, “These actions by key actors in the executive and legislative arms of government paint the country in a negative light.”
He said it was not the norm for former presidents to comment on issues, so as not to heat up the polity.
However, Jonathan said, his comment became necessary after calls from many Nigerians, urging him to speak on the events in Rivers State.
He added that the image of the country and how much investments a country attracts is dependent on the actions of the executive, legislature and judiciary of that country.
Goodluck Jonathan faulted the situation where an individual can dictate to the judiciary, noting that it makes it difficult for anyone to have faith in the judiciary.
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