NGO to Tinubu: Appoint PLWDs as ministers …we can be more than SAs

The All Rights Foundation (TAF) Africa has urged Bola Tinubu, Nigeria’s president-elect to appoint people living with disabilities (PLWDs) as ministers.

Jake Epelle, the chief executive officer of the non-governmental organisation, spoke during his visit to the national working committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Abuja.

He also urged the governors-elect to appoint PLWDs and those with albinism as commissioners.

Epelle sought the support of the PDP to let the governors-elect on its platform see the need to give PLWDs and those with albinism portfolios in their cabinets.

He said that the visit was to inform the party’s leaders about some of the foundation’s projects which include “the able-to-serve campaign”.

“For us, the able-to-serve is geared toward getting the incoming administration, the governors-elect to go from just the mere appointment of persons with disability as special advisers, special assistants and senior special assistants to at least the positions of commissioners,” Epelle said.

“At the national level, we are also engaging to ensure that at least one of them gets a ministerial position. So, able-to-serve is specifically tailored to make advocacy for that.”

He said that the foundation is also planning to train PLWDs with the skills they need to do well in public offices and improve their lives.

“We will also create a forum where they are properly mentored and tutored and they will become mentors of other people,” he added.

Epelle commended the opposition party for producing Umo Eno, the governor-elect in Akwa Ibom, as the first person with albinism in Nigeria and Africa to be elected into that position.

“We must continue to work together. We need you to succeed as you need us to succeed,” he said.

Umar Damagum, acting national chairman of the PDP, assured the foundation that the party would continue to ensure inclusion.

“About 14 years ago, our party created a board for people with disability. Today, we have a desk with the office of a woman leader,” Damagum said.

“Though we have done a lot, but can still do more. The PLWDs should feel free to join the PDP because it is in PDP that they can achieve their aspirations.

“We have a desk that can take care of that and as you come up to partner with us, we can collaborate.