Nigerians living with disability have a lot to offer in the development of the country, and should be encouraged to do so.
That was the message the Muslim Association of Visually-impaired of Nigeria (MAVIN) sent to political parties, urging them to reserve at least 10 per cent slots for persons living with disability in the selection of party candidates for elections.
President of the Association, Mr Dahiru Gambo, said this will also guarantee equal opportunity and inclusion of persons living with disability in government’s policy formulation and implementation, in addition to giving such persons a sense of belonging.
Gambo said this in a statement by MAVIN’s spokesman, Alhaji Abdul-Wasiu Salaudeen to commemorate this year’s International Day of Disabled Persons.
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He said, “The aim of the Day is to promote the rights and well-being of persons with disability in all spheres of society and development, and to increase awareness of their situation in every aspect of life.”
Persons with disability can also make laws and be appointed ministers and commissioners, he said.
“We will be a lot happier if government at all levels can carry along persons living with disability in their administration; we hardly see persons living with disability on the floor of the Green Chamber of the National Assembly. We have less or no disabled persons at the state level. We deserve a sense of belonging, we have among us well-educated persons who are politicians but when it comes to the selection of candidates that would represent people at the general elections, we are relegated to the background,” he said.
Gambo urged well-meaning Nigerians to support persons living with disability by employing or empowering them so they can live productive and comfortable lives.