The Joint National Association of People Living with Disabilities (APLWD) has called for full implementation of the law protecting rights of the physically challenged in the country.
The association said the passage and assent to the law in Nigeria would grant its members a new ray of hope but expressed concern that it was yet to be implemented despite that the bill had long been forwarded to the President to assent to it
Chairman, Kwara State Chapter of the association, Mr Yusuf Bashir, said this when he led executive members of the association, Kwara state chapter on a courtesy visit to the state Council of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in Ilorin, the state capital.
The Charman particularlly called for the full implemention of the bill in kwara state to make life more bearable for people living with disabilities.
Bashir lamented that the inability of the government to faithfully implement the law had deprived his members some quota exclusively reserved for them in terms of employment opportunities, and other related benefits.
He specifically noted that the delay in the implementation of the law could not enable the association secure quota for members in the ongoing recruitment in the state Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) as contained in the new law.
Bashir, however, commended the state Governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed, and the state House of Assembly for considering the plights of the association in passing and assenting the new law, which he said its agitation began in 1994.
The chairman appealed to the National Assembly to emulate Kwara State in passing similar bill pending before it in order to preserve the rights of people living with disabilities nationwide.
Bashir therefore challenged the media across the country to promote issues that concern the well being of the physically challenged in the society.
Responding, the Chairman, Kwara State Council of NUJ, Mallam Umar Abdulwahab, assured that the media will impress it on the government to expedite action on the full implementation of the new law.
He stated that the association was full of eminently qualified people and assured them of the union’s support.
Abdulwahab congratulated members of the association on the result of their struggle, which resulted in the passage and assent to the new law.
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