The community of people with disabilities (PWDs) have expressed displeasure over the exclusion of its members from the ministerial list submitted by President Bola Tinubu to the senate.
On Monday, the senate approved 45 out of the 48 ministerial nominees sent by the president.
While addressing a joint press conference in Abuja, the leadership of the group said the omission is not in line with the Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act, 2018, which provides for five per cent appointments of PWDs into public offices.
The group said: “Regrettably, the recent ministerial list provided by President Bola Tinubu has failed to recognize the vital role that PWDs can and should offer in Nigeria’s governance framework.
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“The current absence of PWD representation in the federal executive council marks a missed opportunity to promote equality and justice for PWDs in Nigeria.”
The group has demanded the immediate appointment of PWDs into ministerial positions at the national level, and commissioner positions in the state, adding that section 29 of the Disability Act should be enforced.
In addition, the association in its communique, has requested a constructive and inclusive dialogue between the presidency and the community of PWDs to further discuss their concerns and aspirations.
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The group also asked the federal government to include PWDs in decision-making processes concerning policies that directly or indirectly affect them, including incorporating plans for PWDs in the ongoing palliative committee on subsidy removal.
Some of the associations of PWDs present at the press conference include; Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD), National Association of Persons with Physical Disabilities, the Albino Foundation Africa, Disability Rights Advocacy Centre, Inclusive Friends Association, amongst others.
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