The Albino Foundation Public Notice
By Oliver Nweke
Over 50,000 Persons with Disabilities captured in the data base of the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities will soon receive cash alert under the conditional cash transfer scheme of the federal government, the Executive Secretary of the Commission, Mr James Lalu has said.
The Executive secretary of the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities, Mr James David Lalu who made this known during a press briefing to commemorate the commission’s one year in office added that the 50,000 persons so far captured are from the 774 local government across the country.
According to him the funds are from the COVID-19 palliative funds meant to cushion the effects of the economy on its members.
Speaking on the achievements of the Commission, Lalu added that aside the 50,000 persons who will benefit from the conditional cash transfer, 40,000 persons with disabilities will also be captured in the N- Power program of the government.
He explained that under the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari and the leadership of the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Umar Farouk, Persons with Disabilities have never had it so good especially with the signing of the Act which protects the rights of PWDs in the country.
On the issues of implementation and prosecution of offenders who violates the provision of the Act for Persons with Disabilities, Lalu said, “the law is not mostly to prosecute or punish people but to change and adjust the perceptions of Nigerians on how they deal with Persons with Disabilities to stop discrimination.
“we want to change the narrative, for instance we wrote to some airlines to complain about the way they treat some of our members, they replied and apologized ,while taking necessary stepsto make some adjustments to accommodate Persons with Disabilities”.
“To enforce the Act, we are partnering with the Nigerian Police Force (NPF) so that they become our friends and understand the importance of protecting the rights of Persons with Disabilities, presently we are working with the Nigerian Police to establish a disability desk in all their formations to handle cases of discriminations.
He listed the states of Kebbi, Kwara, Cross River, Enugu, Kano and Adamawa as states that were already pushing for the assent and harmonization of the act in their states.
On the mass housing scheme for Persons with Disabilities, Lalu called on the Minister of the FCT to show commitment and provide land for the building of housing for Persons with Disabilities, according to him the Commission is already collaborating with the Federal Mortgage Bank and the Federal Housing Authority to provide 200 units of housing for Persons with Disabilities.
“we are advocating for 50 units of housing for our members across the states.
