The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said it will set up PWD desk officers in 12 States of the Federation to aid the gathering of data of voters with disabilities in the States.

INEC said the decision was in response to a request made by the Executive Director of Inclusive Friends Association (IFA), Grace Jerry for its proposed disaggregated data gathering of voters with disabilities in 12 States.

Secretary to the Commission, Rose Onaran-Anthony, in a response to the request by IFA, said it had accepted to provide assistance, assuring that it will publish sensitization messages for the data collection exercise on INEC’s Television, Radio and Social Media Platform.

She said INEC, aside assigning PWD desk officers in the 12 states to assist in data collection of PWDs that would assist INEC offices during the period, it would also facilitate a meeting of IFA representatives and the relevant departments (ICT, VR, VEP) to discuss methodology.

Malam Aminu Tudun Wada

The Joint association of people living with disabilities says they were excluded from Palliatives distribution during the COVID 19 lockdown in Kano State North-Western Nigeria.

The Vice-chairman of the association in Kano, Alhaji Aminu Ahmad Tudun Wada stated this during an interview with the Nigerian Tracker as part of a three-day training organized for Media and Civil Society organization by Action Against Hunger,a Non-governmental organization on how Palliatives were distributed judiciously in post-COVID-19.

He said when Kano State Government inaugurated the Palliatives distribution on the basis of 4 people per ballot box they were surprised at the modus operandi of the distribution.

Aminu Ahmad Tudun Wada said ”Our expectation was whenever governments decide to distribute Palliatives or any aid, we taught people with disabilities will be at the forefront but we were excluded.

The Vice-chairman of the joint union of people with disabilities added that they have over one million members living with disabilities and how can they be excluded in these all-important aspects of cushioning the effect of Corona- Virus Pandemic.

He said if not for the intervention of one good Samaritan and a traditional Titleholder DanMakwayon Bichi and District Head of Tsanyawa was the only person who intervened on their behalf.

The Vice-chairman added that he is not calling for a special aid but to be specific our people have suffered during the disbursement of Palliatives.

Malam Aminu Ahmad charged governments at all levels to make sure that whenever the government is set to aid the less privileged, people should not be segregated based on their age or status or physical appearance.

He said he tried to appease their members in Kano but proved abortive.

The Civil Society Media training holding in Dutse Jigawa state is expected to come out with modalities on how CSO’s and Media will follow up the post COVID 19 Palliatives distribution.

BY JOSHUA ODEYEMI

About 260, 000 children with different disabilities are not presently receiving basic education in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), reports have indicated.

According to UNICEF, about 95% of children with disabilities in developing countries are out of school and 90% of them may never gain access to basic education in their lifetime.

The FCT currently has a total of seven special public and private schools and learning centres for children with disabilities with the combined enrolment capacity of about 2000 pupils.

While speaking in a two-day advocacy programme in Abuja, the national project manager of the Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD), Deji Ademefun, said most of the special needs schools in the FCT are sited in very distant locations.

He said some of the schools lack basic infrastructures like roads, electricity power supply and potable water.

Ademefun said to tackle the situation, the FCT authorities must urgently make all primary and secondary public and private schools inclusive of, and accessible to all children including those with disabilities.

A deputy director at the education secretariat, Jean Onyekwelu, however said the statistics quoted in the reports may be incorrect as the term ‘disable children’ is more than deaf, dump, blind and disabled children.

She insisted that hyperactive, aggressive, low esteemed children and those suffering from albinism are all children with special needs, noting that some of them are presently in regular schools in the FCT.

Dailytrust

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has appointed the Southwest APC zonal Leader, Prince, Paul Adelabu, a person with physical Disability as a member of the National Campaign Council for the October 10 governorship election in Ondo State.

National Chairman of the APC Caretaker/Extra Ordinary Convention Committee and Governor of Yobe State, Mai Mala Buni confirmed the appointment in a letter signed by the National Secretary of the Caretaker Committee, Senator John Akpan Udoedehe and presented to Prince Adelabu by APC caretaker committee representing Persons with Disabilities, James Lalu in Abuja today.

According to Buni, his appointment was based on his strength of character, experience and dedication in ensuring the success of the party.

Listing his terms of reference, the APC Chairman said among other things, he will be saddled with the responsibility of organising a formidable campaign structure cutting across all strata of the party in the State.

Buni said he will also be expected to mobilize members of the party and other non-partisan members of the public in the State to build confidence on the party and its candidate, Governor Rotimi Akeredolu.

He also said members of the Campaign Council will also be expected to raise funds across the country to be used in the effective management of the campaign process.

Besides, he said they will need to liaise with the state party structure and the candidate with a view to harmonize the party’s strategies for success as well as other duties that would be geared towards ensuring the party’s victory in the forthcoming election.