- Thanks President Buhari for assenting the Nigeria Disability Act and establishment of a Disability commission.
- Appreciates various initiatives of FG towards cushioning adverse effects of COVID- 19.
- Charges State and FG to engage widely with PWDs in proffering solutions to security challenges in the country.
- Calls on all political appointees with Disabilities in the North to be good ambassadors of APDF.
AREWA Persons with Disabilities Forum, APDF, in furtherance of the determination to strengthen its internal structures, recently engaged with critical stakeholders and amply expressed its voice on the current state of affairs of Persons with Disabilities of the Northern extraction in particular, and Nigeria in general. The meeting held Tuesday 25th May, 2021 at the Arewa House, Kaduna.
The meeting was attended by the Executive Secretary of the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities, Mr. James Lalu, the SA to the President on Special Needs, Mr. Danjuma Attah, the SSA to Mr. President on media and publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, as well as many other SAs to State Governors on Disability matters. Also present were a host of other political appointees, cluster heads amongst other prominent personalities of the community.
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The following resolutions were arrived at after extensive deliberations:
1. The Forum recognized and appreciated President Muhammadu Buhari for the goodwill and profound love demonstrated in his signing into law the Nigeria Disability Act and also setting up the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities and at the same time forthrightly appointing competent and prominent members of Northern extraction as the Executive Secretary and members of Board.
2. The Forum notes that the setting up of the Commission to cater for the well-being of Persons with Disabilities in Nigeria is not only laudable but life-saving and in line with development goals agenda of the United Nations.
3. The Forum appreciates successive National Assembly sessions for the promulgation of the Disability Act, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, various CSOs and stakeholders that played important role in bringing about the Disability law in Nigeria, thereby giving persons with disabilities formal and prominent roles in the governance architecture of the Country.
4. The Forum noted with pain the negative impact of COVID -19 on Persons with Disabilities which has left majority of our members jobless, and suffering. We however appreciates the various initiatives of the Federal Government towards alleviating the adverse effects of COVID-19 on our populace while urging government at all levels to do more to support us to not only thrive but live.
5. The Forum emphasized the need for state and federal government to engage widely with Persons with Disabilities at all stages in proffering solutions to the present security challenges bedeviling the nation, bearing in mind the vulnerability of members of our community, who are likely to be worst hit in emergency situations.
6. The Forum expressed the need for power brokers in all political parties to include persons with Disabilities in the 2023 political equation and opportunities considering the huge untapped numerical strength and potentials of members of our community.
7. The Forum embraces and identify with the supreme and strongest voices supporting the indivisibility, indissolubility and oneness of the Nation, while urging all those pursuing separatist agendas to shield their sword and embrace the unity of the Nation.
8. The Forum calls for collective efforts in addressing the lingering challenges of the North, e.g. Almajiri system, insecurity, illiteracy, poverty, etc which in no small measures affect Persons with Disabilities in the north.
9. The Forum expressed concern over the low level involvement of people with Disabilities in the implementation of programmes and initiatives of Government and called on all relevant Agencies to review implementation strategies to allow for maximum involvement, impact and benefits for People with Disabilities.
10. The Forum calls on all political appointees with Disabilities in the North and all members in position of authority to be good ambassadors of APDF. Meanwhile, we promise to henceforth speak with one voice and push together for our common interests.