The Nigerian Association of the Blind (NAB), Abuja Branch, sought employment for its members in government ministries and agencies, as stipulated in the Persons with Disabilities Act.
Mr. Kassim Lawal, secretary general of the NAB, requested it, when he drove other executive members of the association to the headquarters of the Federal Character Commission (FCC) in Abuja on Tuesday.
Lawal said many NAB members resorted to begging on the streets due to hardship, and the association found it necessary to report their situation to the commission for action.
He recalled that President Muhammadu Buhari had promulgated the 2018 law.
Lawal added that the intervention of the FCC as a monitoring agency was necessary to ensure the law’s implementation.
According to him, their visit is intended to bring to the attention of the commission, the violation of the act which has been promulgated.
“The well-being of the blind and other people with disabilities can be improved
“In accordance with this, and as well as the Disability Rights Act which provides 5% employment allowances for people with disabilities, we deem it appropriate to meet with the commission in the interest of our members.
“We have come here today to see how the commission can better enforce this particular provision of the Act.
“The commission recruits its own staff, so on that basis, we are asking for at least 5 percent representation of people with disabilities in the workforce of this commission,” Lawal said.
He urged the FCC, as a watchdog agency, to ensure that ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) comply with the 5 percent job allocation provision.
FCC Chairman Dr Muheeba Dankaka said the visit was a special courtesy visit among all other visits since she took over the commission’s office as chair.
Dankaka said the commission had respect for people with disabilities and had advocated for appropriate representation of people with disabilities in federal facilities during its meetings with MDA leaders.
“The commission is aware that 5 percent of the total workforce in federal facilities has been approved for people with disabilities and the commission will not relax its application.
“I assure you that all the issues raised today will receive positive attention,” she said.
(NAN)