By Friday Idachaba, Lokoja
The Kogi State chapter of Persons With Disabilities (PWDs) has called on Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo to allocate 300 employment slots in the state civil service to its members to alleviate the challenges of unemployment and economic hardship facing them.
The appeal was made on Friday by Mr. Samuel Mark, President of the Kogi chapter of PWDs, during a visit to the Government House in Lokoja to congratulate the Governor on his first year in office.
Mark highlighted the economic struggles, neglect, and discrimination faced by PWDs in the state, emphasizing the need for more inclusive recruitment policies.
“We hereby appeal to Your Excellency to consider us and employ more of our members in the Kogi Office for Disabilities Affairs, which currently has only one staff with a disability,” he said.
Mark revealed that despite having graduates, master’s degree holders, and even medical professionals among them, many PWDs remain unemployed. “Appointing a PWD as Secretary of the Kogi Office for Disability Affairs is commendable but not sufficient to address our needs,” he added.
While making their demands, the group lauded the government’s efforts in providing special attention to PWDs in palliative distribution and ensuring their inclusion in the state Health Insurance Scheme.
Mark also praised the administration for timely payment of workers’ salaries, ongoing road infrastructure projects, and maintaining peace and stability in the state.
The group specifically commended Governor Ododo for his recent intervention in waiving the controversial Tax Clearance Certificate requirement for students’ registration in tertiary institutions.
Governor Ododo’s Assurance
In response, Governor Ododo, represented by the Commissioner for Special Duties and Inter-governmental Affairs, Mr. Sunday Faleke, assured PWDs of their inclusion in upcoming recruitment exercises.
He urged the leadership of the group to compile and submit a comprehensive list of qualified candidates, specifying their preferred ministries or establishments. “This administration holds PWDs in high esteem and will ensure inclusiveness in all government activities,” he affirmed.
Faleke also encouraged PWDs to liaise with the Kogi Office for Disability Affairs to facilitate the process.
Meanwhile, Mr. Solomon Yahyah, Chairman of the Joint National Association of Persons With Disabilities (JONAPWD) in Kogi, expressed gratitude for the government’s reception and appealed for the restoration of monthly stipends for PWDs in the state.
The visit concluded with renewed hope that Governor Ododo’s administration will continue to prioritize the needs of PWDs and ensure greater inclusivity in employment and governance.