The Federal Government has tasked its various Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to comply with President Muhammadu Buhari’s directive on quota allocation to Persons with Disabilities in all programs.
Minister of humanitarian Affairs, Disaster management and Social Development, Sadiya Umar Farouk revealed this at the first National Disability Summit organized to commemorate the International Day of Persons with Disabilities.
According to the minister, some 40,000 Persons with Disabilities have been absorbed into the current N-Power scheme.
Hajia Farouk pointed out how under her ministry, over one million PWDs have so been captured in the National Social Safety-Nets Coordinating Office (NASSCO) database, with 115 beneficiaries receiving monthly stipends.
The minister urged MDAs to implement the five percent employment quota for Persons with Disabilities.
At the formal launching of the first edition of the National Sign Language dictionary, Sadiya charged Nigerians to adopt sign language as alternative means of communication.
She praised the National Commission for Persons With Disabilities (NCPWD) for developing a Nigerian Sign Language Dictionary for users of the language and those interested in learning it.
“As we work towards creating an inclusive environment for Persons with Disabilities, I encourage society to enhance their communication skills by learning and adopting sign language as an alternative means of communication”
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, in his address, made the provision of 5% employment slot for Persons with Disabilities mandatory across the 36 states of the Federation.
Osinbajo said: “The directive makes it criminal for any Ministry, Department or Agency of Government to deny Persons with Disabilities the opportunity to work, provided they have the requisite skills,”
Represented by Minister of Special Duties, Senator George Akume, the Vice President said the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities is mandated to develop strategies that will alleviate living conditions of PWDs, especially those engaged in street begging.
Akume notes that Persons with Disabilities have been given the platform to signify interest in the available housing units which will be customized for easy accessibility through the instrumentality of Federal Character.
He added that the Federal Government is working assiduously to modify the National Health Insurance Scheme to accommodate health insurance needs of PWDs.
The Executive Secretary, National Commission for Persons with Disabilities, James Lalu, lauded President Muhammadu Buhari for assenting the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (prohibition) Act as well as establishing the Disability Commission.
Lalu also heaped praises on Hajia Sadiya Umar Farouq for the role she played in the establishment and continuity of the Commission.
Highlights at the event was the launching of the new Disability Registration and Reporting system application, an accessible website for the commission, production and distribution of the National Disability Certificate, aisle wheelchairs for ease of air travel experience of wheelchair users at airports.
Dignitaries at the event were House Committee chairman on Disability, Hon. Miriam Onuoha, Senator Tanko Al-Makura, Senate Committee chairman on special duties, Sen. Yusuf Abubakar, and Hon. Minister of Women Affairs, Pauline Tallen.