Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Farouk says the current administration, under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari has done a lot for persons with disabilities.
Speaking to State House Correspondents after she led officials of the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities on a courtesy visit to President Buhari’s office on Thursday, Umar said: “You may recall the All-Progressives Congress (APC) is the first party in this country that has made provisions for persons with disability in their EXCO at the ward, Local Government, State and National levels since inception.
“That was followed by the President’s campaign promise to the Disabilities Commission, where he pledged to sign into law the Persons with Disabilities Act, that has been done and the Commission has been created.
“Now the next thing is, we have appealed to him, to issue an Executive Order for compliance on the prohibition of this Act especially in the area of access, where most of our public and private buildings are not friendly to persons with disabilities. So, this is an appeal we have made to the President and we are hopeful that he will direct that every public and private buildings comply to this provision.”she stated.
According to her, the Commissions for Persons with Disabilities, in collaboration with the Ministry for Humanitarian Affairs had already reached out to the Federal Civil Service Commission, to consider persons with disabilities, during recruitment exercises, to enable such persons become gainfully employed too.
“Talking about inclusion, we have already started by reaching out to the Civil Service Commission, to see that people who are qualified are also given the opportunity to be part of the civil service in this country.
“Even in political appointments, the President has already started by appointing a Senior Special Assistant on Persons with Disabilities and we hope that going forward we will have more people with disabilities in the government of this country,” she said.
The Minister said during their visit, President Buhari pledged more funding for the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities, to enable it achieve its mandate.
Lateefah Ibrahim
