TAF requests that governors and Tinubu appoint PWDs to the government

TAF Africa, an international non-governmental organization, has issued a plea to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the 36 state governors to contemplate the inclusion of People With Disabilities (PWDs) in ministerial and commissioner appointments. The organization argues that disregarding a group that accounts for 35 million individuals within the Nigerian population would be inappropriate.

The non-governmental organization (NGO) currently engaged in efforts to enhance the capacity of governance institutions and promote the rule of law for the inclusion of individuals with disabilities at the grassroots level, expressed its position during a visit to the Kaduna State Disability Affairs Board on Monday.

The Programme Manager, Mr Olayemi Samuel, who heads the TAF Africa team, expressed that their purpose for being in Kaduna was to establish a partnership with the board in order to facilitate the inclusion of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) in the electoral process, with a specific focus on the local level.

This morning, our purpose is to explore potential partnerships for a project that is being funded by the Canadian Fund for Local Initiatives. The objective of this project is to enhance governance and rule of law within institutions, with a specific focus on improving conditions for individuals with disabilities at the grassroots level.

As to his statement, there are several policies that have been implemented to facilitate the inclusion and engagement of individuals with disabilities, one of which is the electoral act of 2022.

Nevertheless, our objective is to localize this initiative at the state level, aiming to facilitate the comprehensive involvement of persons with disabilities (PWDs) in the electoral process. To achieve this, we plan to collaborate with the Disability Affairs Board in order to actively engage pertinent stakeholders and enhance existing frameworks that promote the participation of PWDs.

In reference to the appointment of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs), Samuel expressed concern over the significantly low representation of PWDs in public offices within Nigeria. He highlighted that among the approximately 50 ministers appointed thus far, none have been chosen to represent the PWDs community. This lack of representation indicates a form of neglect and discrimination towards PWDs.

However, he expressed the desire for individuals with disabilities (PWDs) to hold positions as ministers, commissioners, and heads of parastatals. In order to effectively establish or implement a policy, it is advisable to identify the major beneficiaries of this program. The nature of input and support received from stakeholders is of utmost importance in the implementation of said policy.

Currently, the disability community, comprising over 35 million individuals in Nigeria, is not being adequately included in decision-making processes. In an attempt to address this issue, we have made significant efforts to communicate with the President through an open letter. 

Our objective is to advocate for the appointment of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) as Ministers in order to promote inclusivity and representation within the government. We are utilizing this platform once more to urge all pertinent stakeholders, including the President, Governors, and local government chairmen, to contemplate the inclusion of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) in governmental appointments.

Within the population of persons with disabilities (PWDs), there exist individuals who have attained doctoral degrees (PhDs) as well as those who have pursued legal education and possess the necessary skills and abilities to actively participate in the governance and development of our nation. Certainly, when appointing a someone with a disability as a humanitarian minister, one might reasonably anticipate enhanced performance due to their affiliation with persons with disabilities (PWDs). 

This is because such an appointment would enable them to advocate for the rights of PWDs and safeguard against any infringement upon those rights. The problem of discrimination will be mitigated.

According to Hajia Rakiya Umar, the Executive Secretary of the Kaduna State Disability Affairs Board, the Board expresses its appreciation for the collaboration with TAF Africa. 

She further states that the Board is open to collaborating with the non-governmental organization, particularly in the domain of raising awareness about the Kaduna State Disability Law and preventing diseases that may result in various disabilities.

In addition to addressing the meeting, Malam Rilwan Mohammed, the President of Persons Living With Physical Disabilities in Kaduna State, emphasized that the primary obstacle faced by individuals with disabilities (PWD) is not the absence of legal frameworks, but rather the effective implementation of existing laws. 

He further asserted that the comprehensive enforcement of the disability law in Kaduna State would effectively resolve all the challenges encountered by PWDs.