PEOPLE LIVING WITH DISABILITIES DEMAND GOVERNMENT APPOINTMENTS, CREATION OF SOCIAL SAFETY

Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD), Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government (AOLG) branch at the Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government Budget Inputs Engagement Session (BIES) with African Foundation for Environment and Development (AFED),  in Ota, has demanded Government appointment and creation of social safety net amongst others. 

The BIES is a follow-up to the AOLG Budget Parley held recently, supported by the United Kingdom (UK) Department for International Development (DFID) under its program tagged, Partnership to Engage, Reform and Learn (PERL) where it was discovered that Youths, Widows and People Living with Disabilities (PWD) were not provided for in the Local Government Budget.

Mr. Kafilu Oteshite, the Chairman of JONAPWD AOLG appreciated AFED and the Government for the opportunity to present inputs into the budget. 

He informed the sitting that JONAPWD has four clusters; The Blind, Persons with Physical Disabilities, the Deaf and People with Leprosy. 

He said JONAPWD in AOLG has members from only the first three clusters excluding people with Leprosy. 

Mr. Oteshite said member’s needs vary based on their type of disabilities.

As such, JONAPWD AOLG Branch requested for employment opportunities for members, appointment of a representative by Government, training and business start-up capital, free education for special children, free medical services, provision of PWD Kits/tools, Special Vocational Centre, disability school, PWD Secretariat/office within the Local Government secretariat premises and celebrate International days such as World Disability Day, White cane day, etc. with People Living with Disability in Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government. 

In his contribution, the Executive Director of AFED, Mr. Adeshola Afariogun commended JONAPWD for being so organized and coordinated in Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government. 

He was highly optimistic that the new Government will engage JONAPWD for effective and efficient service delivery. Mr. Afariogun advised the group to form a cooperative society in order to attract more benefits from Government.