Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State has recently announced payment of gratuity backlog owed retired Local Government (LG) workers by his administration, along with immediate promotion of some 26,085 LG staff across the State to the tune of 7.9 billion naira.
The welcome development was disclosed by Ismail Uba Misilli, Director of Press Affairs to the Governor in a signed statement shared across the State.
INN shares opinions of LG workers with disabilities where they bare their minds on the happy development.
Mr Hadi Mohammed, a Deaf teacher who works at the Special Education Centre of the Local Education Authority (LEA) says “he appreciates Governor Yahaya for the unprecedented giant strides he has achieved – especially in the education sector”.
His words, “First, I must appreciate His Excellency for the people-oriented projects he achieved, especially those within the education sector. I however confess that many Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) voted for the Governor in the 2019 election that brought him to power. He should therefore be fair to them by ensuring that LG workers who are PWDs get special consideration in the promotion exercise approved by the Governor”.
“It is sad that PWDs are left behind in the sharing of democratic dividends. I believe if the Governor has PWDs family members, he will better focus on them and the PWD community would benefitted immersely from many things under this administration”
“I therefore call on the State Government to pay us, 15% special allowance as is being paid to teachers under the Ministry of Education payroll. This is because teaching students with Disabilities is a complicated and turbulent task”.
A physically challenged social worker with Gombe LGA who pleaded anonymity as he isn’t authorized to comment on the issue disclosed his excitement and expectations to INN upon hearing news of the development.
He said: ” I was much amused on getting to know that the Governor attaches great values to the life and plight of the poor LG workers”
“I am sure the implementation of this order will put smiles on our faces, meanwhile drying the tears of many PWDs LG workers. We have been pushed down by successive administrations. We have been waiting for so long until today. Gov Inuwa Yahaya put an end to these injustices”.
He added, “as a PWD LG worker, I have much wider expectations from Governor Inuwa Yahaya. I expect His Excellency to domesticate the disability law in the State.
He concluded by emphasizing that signing the bill into law is more important to PWDs as a people with unique problems”.