The State Director, Persons Living with Disabilities (PWDs), Niger State chapter, Malam Yakubu Garba Abdullahi has expressed confidence in the ability of the State Governor Honourable Mohammed Umaru Bago to fulfil his promise towards persons living with disabilities in the state by appointing some of them into his government.
Yakubu Garba Abdullahi stated this in an interview with some selected journalists shortly after the inauguration of State Commissioners, Permanent Secretaries, Directors Generals, Senior Special Advisers and Special Advisers to the governor at the Justice Idris Legbo Kutigi International Conference Centre Minna on Monday.
The PWDs Director said; “What we are expecting is ranging from Director General, Coordinators, Senior Special Advisers and Special Assistants and Special Advisers to the governor”, emphasising that he was aware that “Governor Umaru Bago has a very good plan for persons with disabilities in Niger”.
When asked if he was disappointed that he and his members in the State had not been appointed to any positions by the Governor, he said “We are in talks with His Excellency, and he has vowed to fulfill his promises towards persons with disabilities in Niger”.
He, however, pointed out that the inabilities of the immediate past Governor Abubakar Sani Bello-led administration in the State in conjunction with the 9th State House of Assembly to implement a Act in place for persons living with disabilities might have been responsible for the inabilities of the incumbent Governor’s implementation in view of the fact that it has not been harmonized by the State House of Assembly in conjunction with the National Disabilities Commission which he said was more comprehensive and encompassing as it gives rooms for welfare of persons with disabilities.
Speaking further, he noted that when Governor Umaru Bago was at the House of Representatives Abuja, representing Chanchaga Federal Constituency of Niger, he had championed so many activities for the persons living with disabilities, stressing that he had anchored so many programmes for the governor in the past for persons with special needs.
Yusuf Garba Abdullahi explained further that during the period, no fewer than 10persons with disabilities from each Ward and about 100 and above persons living with disabilities were assisted in their petty trades or businesses adding that “today they are flourishing because I made sure that that from day to day I go around to see how far they were doing with what they have been been given in terms of empowerments from him”.
“And as we speak, every person with disabilities today in public schools in Niger from Nursery/Primary Schools up to Secondary School level especially from Chanchaga Federal Constituency of the State, the incumbent Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago has been taking care of the payments of their PTAs, including provisions of their school bags, writing material, and footwears for the students.
“So I believe that these gestures the governor has been extending to persons living with disabilities who he has them in his mind and we are expecting more from him. And I am optimistic that we will receive more from him as a Governor,” he added.
READ ALSO FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE
and then