In fulfilment of the provisions of section 28 and 29 of the 2018 Disability Law, the Executive Secretary, National Commission for Persons With Disabilities, Mr. James David Lalu has led the advocacy on the actualization of the 5% employment opportunity as provided in the Act.
Speaking at the sensitization workshop organized by the Commission in Calabar, Cross Rivers State recently, the ES informed the meeting of the need to support Persons With Disabilities who have acquired skills and built their capacity with gainful employment.
The meeting which had the theme: “Employment: a necessity for better life for Persons With Disabilities, sought to create awareness for the inclusion of PWDs in the economic growth of the country.
“May I plead with everyone here present to stop treating persons with Disabilities with pity but, rather look beyond their conditions and see their talents and what they can offer”.
I also want to assure you all that, PWDs have special skills that will interest the community only if they are given the chance”, he said.
The Commission’s helmsman equally asserted that NCPWD has been given the mandate to ensure compliance and the enforcement of the 5% employment opportunity where any Ministries, extra-ministerial Department and Agencies that ignore the call will be made to face the full wrath of the law.
He further seized the occasion to appreciate those who are complying with the directive and encouraged others to follow suit.
Represented by Ms Philomena Konwea, South-South representative of the Commission’s govering council, he noted that PWDs should get themselves prepared for opportunities as the Commission would continue to push for enforcement of 5% employment of PWDs.
“PWDs should utilise available opportunities to be qualified for placements by upgrading their educational qualifications and be available for technical skill trainings which would give them better opportunities.
“Also, we are creating awareness for them to register and collect the INEC permanent voter cards and also participate in politics,” he said.
Similarly, Barrister Ikem Uchegbulam, Director Compliance and Enforcement (NCPWD) said that the Commission is moving round the country to sensitise people on the 2018 Act. He further disclosed that enforcements for compliance would soon commence.
Uchegbulam as well, called on the governments of South-South to make the law operational in their states, adding that the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) data, says Nigeria has about 35.1 million PWDs and which will be validated by the commission very soon.
Meanwhile, the Cross River Head of Service, Timothy Akwaji said government was already implementing the law in the state, having passed the bill into law for five per cent of the state’s workforce to be PWDs.
However, a PWD Daniel Akpan, said most Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) in the state did not respect the five per cent provision of the law, adding that many of them were varsity graduates and law abiding citizens but were still unemployed.
“We are not asking for too much, don’t deny us the five per cent employment slot so we can contribute our quota to the development of our society too”