By Ifedayo Ogunyemi
Persons with disabilities under the aegis of the Coalition for Job Advocacy for Persons with Disabilities, on Tuesday, protested at the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, following failure of the office to implement the agreement on job placements for the PWDs.
It would be recalled that the coalition had protested at the same office in September 2020 which necessitated a meeting between the two parties where resolutions were made.
Their demands centre on the provision of jobs for technology-inclined persons with disabilities and business support including loans for those who are not technology-inclined.
Irked by the failure of the Federal Government to implement the resolutions after nine months, the protesters led by the president of the coalition, Tolu Aluko, stormed the office of the SGF again on Tuesday and blocked its two entrances.
Speaking with newsmen on the sidelines of the protest, secretary of the coalition, Timilehin Olonisaye, the implementation of government policies for persons with disabilities have failed.
He said: “After the September 7 protest, we were called for a meeting at the office of the SGF. A meeting was fixed for October 27, the SGF was absent but the PS on Political & Economic Affairs Office, Andrew Adejo and a director, Mrs Olusola Dada were there.
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“There, we agreed that the office of the SGF will write letters to the MDAs for our employment in a gradual and systematic manner. And those not qualified by age or academic performance will be assisted to secure loans from financial institutions so that they can start-up businesses.
“Unfortunately, since then, nothing tangible has been done by the office of the SGF. It appears like a deceptive arrangement despite the back and forth communication that we’ve had. And that’s why we are back here.
“What we want is employment and business start-up assistance. We are eminently qualified to take up jobs and employments. We have PhD, Masters, B.Sc, B.Ed holders among us. We also have SSCE holders who want to be trained.
“Our members are committing suicide every day and that’s why we are here to demonstrate. Nothing has been done to the biodata of our members that were collected for employment and posting last year. We have been promised again today.
“We are submitting another list and another letter to that effect as agreed by our group and the government representative to re-intimate them of our requests,” Olonisaye who doubles as the national coordinator for Transnational Support Initiative for Persons with Disability (TRANSPED) said.
The Permanent Secretary, General Services Office (GSO), Dr Maurice Mbaeri, who spoke with the protesters promised that from tomorrow towards the end of the week, something tangible will be done to assuage their demands.
He added that the process on how the demands will be addressed would be made public.