The Albino Foundation Public Notice
By Haruna Gimba
People with Disabilities (PWDs) in Gombe State have decried what they described as neglect by the state government and stigma by other members of the society.
Speaking in an interview with INCLUSION Magazine in Gombe, Chairman of the state chapter of the PLWDs, Comrade Umar Ali Goro, said the people with special needs have been neglected by successive administrations in the state during policy formulations and political appointments.
According to him, out of the 3.6 million residents of the state, PLWDs community constituted about 15 per cent of the population, which is about 433,000 people.
He said they have over 30 university graduates, 32 NCE holders and over 58 with various Diploma certificates, who are still roaming about in the streets without jobs.
“This is addition to over 322 others, including deaf, blind, cripples and those with spinal cord injuries, who had secondary school certificates but couldn’t get jobs or continue with their education to tertiary institutions both within and outside the state,” he said.
He revealed that lack of jobs opportunity and fund to further their education, was discouraging other disables to enroll in schools, because of the experience of those that graduated without getting jobs.
Comrade Goro further stated that despite their large population and participation massively during the 2019electioneering campaigns, they have no representative at both local, state and national level.
He said: “None of our members is representing us among the 114 councilors, 11 LGAs chairmen, 24 House of Assembly members or the 21 commissioners, numerous advisers or any other members of the state executive council.
“Therefore, whenever the government is taking a decision that directly or indirectly affect us, we have no representative in such meetings to protect our interest, thereby the government end of formulating a programme that negatively affect us.
He decried a situation where roads, culverts and other public buildings are constructed without recourse to the impediment of the disables, who he said always found it difficult to access such and other facilities.
The chairman added that for years they have been pursuing the passage of a bill for the establishment of a commission for persons with disabilities, to cater for their needs and protect their interest.
“The bill which is for years before the state assembly, has a provision to among other things, creation of a commission dedicated to cater for the needs of the disables.
“It would also make provision for our education, healthcare, empowerment programmes, protect us against stigmatization and offer and counselling to our members as well as teach us vocational skills that will make us independent and self-reliant.
He, therefore, called on the government and other members of the public, to provide them with employment opportunities, “we also seek the establishment of a special centre to empower our members with vocational skills for us to fend for ourselves.”
Comrade Goro also appealed for a special scholarship for their children, to enable them continue with studies at advance level as well as passage of the bill for a commission for people living with disability
