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…Say they face all manner of barriers
From Jude Dangwam, Jos
Persons with disabilities in Plateau State have recounted with pain their inhuman treatment over the years, despite the creation of a Disability Rights Commission in the state, as the world marks the 2023 International Day of Persons with Disabilities.
•Community of persons with disabilities in Plateau
Chairman of the Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities, Mr. Shindol Aaron, made known the very sorry ordeal of persons with disability in the state with a call for action.
He noted that the 2023 celebration, with the theme “United in Action to rescue and achieve sustainable development goals for, with and by persons with disabilities,” underscores collaborative action for a better future for all and called on Governor Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang to come to their aid and save their souls.
•Entrance to the Disability Rights Commission’s premises
They expressed concerns that the politicization of appointments into the commission by the last administration has frustrated the actualization of the objectives of the Disability Rights Commission, being the first in Nigeria created by former Governor Simon Bako Lalong in 2018 and replicated by the Federal Government of Nigeria to address peculiar issues associated with persons living with disabilities in the country.
Aaron lamented: “It is disheartening to note that despite progress made in advocacy and creation of awareness in our society, persons with disabilities in Plateau State continue to face numerous challenges that hinder their full and equal participation in all aspects of life.
“Even though we have one form of impairment or the other, it has not in anyway affected our minds or our intellectual capacities. We have very sound minds and highly progressive in our thoughts.
“The biggest problem we have is the barriers that hinder our equal and equitable participation in societal endeavors.”
The chairman maintained that the gaps consist of employment barrier, educational barrier, empowerment barrier, structural barrier, social barrier and attitudinal barrier encountered on a daily basis by his members.
“Although 5% of employment slots has been apportioned to us by law, yet it remains a paper policy document in our dear state while some states thrived well in that area.
“Empowerment, which is a major component that is meant to help deescalate poverty among persons with disabilities, has been denied oxygen to survive and so even PWDs hardly survive,” he stated
They said the Disability Rights Law which made provision for home and abroad scholarship for PWDs remains an unrealistic dream in the state since its creation.
“In fact, in 2021, out members who were students of University of Jos were brutalized by security personnel at the government house when they went to demand for their unpaid bursary,” he recalled with emotion.
They lamented that Plateau has zero compliance to issues of structural accessibility by persons with disabilities, adding that societal discrimination seems to be rising despite the advocacy and awareness campaign over the years in the state.
He said: “The response of people towards us is not encouraging. Today, people with disabilities in Plateau State are living below poverty level and so we are prone to all kinds of disaster.
“We are susceptible to all kind of diseases because of malnutrition and even die without help.
“We live in houses that are not habitable and collapse on us at anytime. We hardly seek medical attention because of poverty which most times leads to untimely dead of individuals.
“Our children are likely to fall victims of social vices because of our inability to cater for them, thereby increasing the volatility of the society.
“In the face of crisis, animal’s life has more value than ours because we can hardly take cover where there is barrier of hearing, seeing and ability to run away from danger area.”
The national chairman noted that with the removal of fuel subsidy by the Federal Government, the transportation cost of people with disabilities moving from one point to the other is always higher than others, thereby increasing their expenses. He further reiterated that persons with disabilities deserved to live a good life just like any other citizens of the state and appeal to government and spirited individuals to come to their aids.
“We believe that the time is now for persons with disabilities not to be treated as second class citizens but to be given their rightful place,” he stated.
The disability community made eight demands, calling for both immediate and long time attention by the state government.
“All employable PWDs should be granted waver for immediate employment. Empowerment packages should be rolled out to PWDs to better their standard of living. PWDs and their children should be allowed to enjoy free education at all levels.
“Government should make provision for grant or soft loan to encourage businesses own by PWDs. Housing for PWDs should be provided to enhance and guarantee their well-being.
“Persons with disabilities should be considered for all political appointments. PWDs should be given 5 per cent consideration in award of government contracts through the principle of equity as enshrined in the Disability Rights Law,” they insisted.
The disability community said it is time to ensure that their members are not only “recipients of charity” but active contributors to the social, economic and cultural fabric of their beloved state by fostering an inclusive environment where they can unlock the immense potentials within the disability community to enrich the lives of all citizens and build a more just and equitable society for generations to come.
“I can tell you that before the exit of the previous government, we have even written letters for protest because of these challenges we have enumerated.
“We sat with them on May 1, 2023. The former SGS, and the commission’s chairperson were in attendance after our presentation of the ugly situation that we are passing through. The SGS quickly turned to her and asked her with all these no body brought these concerns to us?
“The problem with that commission is that the appointment into it is highly politicized. And as a result, individuals who knew little or nothing about the place are appointed for political compensation and they don’t care to commit themselves to the objectives of the commission.
“None of the objectives of the commission has been achieved in the last dispensation. So, for us, those who have been saddled with the responsibility before now were not committed to the plight of persons living with disability. They are concerned about their interest or they do not know what is involved in that commission.”
The Disability Rights Commission at the moment has no substantial appointment made by the governor of the state, but is being managed by civil servants.
A member of the disability community, Mr. Joshua Yenle, further gave an insight to the operations of the commission since its creation in 2018.
He said: “We would have been happy to see that the Disability Rights Commission in Plateau State being the first in the country succeed. But unfortunately, it is very clear that since its inauguration in 2018, there has never been any form of employment of civil servants in that commission who are members of persons living with disabilities.
“Many of civil servants there are not persons with disabilities. How do you expect people that doesn’t know anything about us to decide for us what will happen for us and is perfectly done?
“The commission has never represented us in the way it should because those assigned with responsibility either don’t know anything or they are being deliberate.”
