The newly appointed Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Special Needs and Equal Opportunities, Hon. Mohammed Abba Isa has assured that his focus will be on ensuring the president’s economic prosperity agenda is not only extended but is effectively inclusive of marginalized Nigerians, especially People with Disabilities.
He gave the assurance while thanking the president and all stakeholders for honouring him with the appointment in a press briefing held on Wednesday.
“I wish to express my deepest gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the honor of my appointment as the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Special Needs and Equal Opportunities. This rare privilege to serve and deliver impactful change to my community is not just an individual honor but also a remarkable demonstration of the President’s commitment to inclusivity, and I extend my heartfelt appreciation to his esteemed self.
“I would also like to express my gratitude to the energetic, purposeful and people oriented – Mr. Seyi Tinubu, for being a selfless and notable voice for people with disabilities. His stand for disability representation and participation is commendable and has brought about unprecedented success in equitable representation particularly for people with disabilities. I look forward to more collaborative efforts with him in championing the cause of disability inclusion.
“Indeed, my appointment is a powerful acknowledgment of the abilities and potentials of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) and proof of the administration’s dedication to ensuring that all segments of society are active participants in the nation’s progress. Thankfully Mr. President has a special knack for spotting talents and rewarding hard work, and indeed that occasions why I am on this role today.”
The former Senior Special Assistant to Yobe state governor on disability matters, vowed to work fervently to support the achievement of the president’s mission of fashioning a more equitable and prosperous society for all.
“From the Presidency, I will be leading the inclusion efforts in achieving the Renewed Hope Agenda for people with disabilities in Nigeria.”
In reeling out his agenda for the marginalized Nigerians and Persons with Disabilities, Hon. Abba Isa noted;
“I will ensure the conduct of impact assessment of all intervention for persons with disabilities so far, determine their needs assessment and generally a situation analysis in all sectors in order to properly align interventions with the Renewed Hope Agenda.
“In conjunction with the NCPWD and in yielding to the aspiration of our people, I will initiate and put mechanisms in place for the amendment of the Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act, 2018 to comply fully with the United Nation Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) and to provide remedy to the various defects in the law. This will introduce international best practice and standards as we seek to implement the Renewed Hope Agenda.
“In conjunction with the NCPWD, i will liaise with the Ministry of Transport to immediately put in place the process of formulating policies on transportation for persons with disabilities as movement is crucial and the fulcrum for participation.
“I will immediately engage and work with all heads of ministries, departments and agencies to ensure the setting up of disability desk officers in their agencies and formulation of inclusive policies and enabling environment for persons with disabilities.
“I will engage all the governors and authorities in the States to ensure the establishment and implementation of legislative framework, policies, plans and programmes to foster disability inclusion, participation and development.
“I will immediately engage the various authorities responsible for federal government palliative initiatives to include people with disabilities, particularly to ensure the setting aside of quota for them.
“I will immediately engage the humanitarian and poverty alleviation agency for the inclusion of persons with disabilities in order to temporarily grant them reliefs and ultimately to pull them out of poverty.
“I will partner with development agencies to build the capacity of people with disabilities on job readiness, social integration and also work with employers of labour to ensure gainful employment for our teeming unemployed individuals.
“I will liaise with international agencies to define and assess their level of intervention and to ensure monitoring and proper reporting of their services to the President.
“In conjunction with the NCPWD i will ensure the setting up of presidential taskforce to ensure enforcement and implementation of various laws on disability affairs.
“In conjunction with the NCPWD I would ensure proper oversight, supervision and monitoring of all initiatives of government as well as donor interventions with a view to ensure mainstreaming of disability perspective.
“I will partner with all organisations of persons with disabilities (OPDs) and NGOs in order to encourage, strengthen and support their work and to align all interventions within the sphere of the Renewed Hope Agenda for the benefit of people with disabilities in Nigeria.”