Para-Football: Senate Considers Sanctions For MDAs Who Reject Disabled People

Chief Whip of the Senate, Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume, has revealed plans by the National Assembly to amend relevant laws establishing the National Commission for Persons with Disability, and melt sanctions against heads of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) who refuse to hire qualified disabled Nigerians.

He spoke on Wednesday when members of FCT Para-Soccer Team honoured him with an award in Abuja.

READ ALSO: Nigerian government tasked to increase investment in para-sports

The Borno South senator said disabled Nigerians who have the requisite qualifications should be allowed to get gainful employment in MDAs and rise to become senior servants.

The lawmaker who donated N1 million to support the team said he’ll use his connections to get more opportunities for disabled soccer players.

“This is the Para-Soccer Team of the FCT. They want to honour me. We’ve been supporting people with disabilities. These people have families and they have made us proud. They’ve won laurels for Nigeria. This team was founded over 30 years ago.

“I want to donate N1 million to support FCT Para-Soccer. I’ll arrange for you to meet the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike. He will give you all the support.

“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu believes in his Renewed Hope Agenda. We’ll have the national event in a grandeur manner and all major political leaders will be there. We can arrange that this year. This year will be a year of Renewed Hope for every Nigerian.

“We’ll make it mandatory for every MDA of government to employ people with disabilities. They’ll be placed in offices and respected, become chief executives of such government agencies, become permanent secretaries. We’ve had a disabled senator who was the Chief Whip here in the National Assembly” he said.

Mallam Misbahu Lawan Didi, the Founder of Para-Soccer, who presented award plaque, said Senator Ndume played a critical role in the passage of the Bill that established Disability Commission in Nigeria.

He also revealed how Senator Ndume reached out to the disabled community during the COVID-19 pandemic, and offered financial and materials assistance to them.

“Para-Soccer game was founded in Nigeria. There are over 5,000 members across Nigeria. You’ve done more the disability community than any other politician in Nigeria. You played a role in the establishment of the Disability Commission. During the COVID-19 pandemic, you reached out to many disabled people.

“You’ve given over 5,000 tricycles to disabled people. You’ve sponsored many of our events. We want other senators to copy what Ndume is doing for disabled people in Nigeria. They need to copy him,” Mallam Lawal Didi said.

Also present at the presentation was Mr. Frank Jituboh, a Bayelsa State born business man, who was also honored by the team.

Senator Ndume said Mr. Jituboh has not only been consistently financing and sponsoring the FCT para-soccer team but also helping some people living with disability.

Speaking with newsmen after the brief ceremony, Mr. Jituboh expresses joy and happiness for being recognized by the FCT Para-Soccer Team.

“This very honour given to me is the best one I have received. I have received honors before from the Minister of FCT, from the Minister for Sports, but this one is special because I was not expecting it. I did not know that people can turn around and say we are grateful for what you have been doing and that what motivates people when you do something for somebody and turn around and is very grateful and very happy, it motivate you to do more. I will keep supporting them. Now I know distinguished so I will be behind him and keep supporting”said Mr. Jituboh who is the immediate past Chairman of Basketball Association of FCT.