The Labour Party (LP) has berated President Bola Tinubu for failing to appoint Persons With Disabilities (PWDs) into his cabinet, noting that PWDs are stakeholders in Nigeria.
The Kaduna state LP chairman, Hon. Awwal Tafoki, who stated this in Kaduna Thursday, expressed disappointment over the exclusion of PWDs in the present administration, saying the PWDs cannot be ignored as they constitute 35 million of the Nigerian population.
Speaking when he received TAF Africa, a nongovernmental organisation, on an advocacy visit for the inclusion of PWDs in the party activities, Tafoki promised that his party will appoint PWDs as delegates and special advisers to LP National Assembly candidates from Kaduna state.
“Before now, we sell membership cards at a flat rate, but now with TAF Africa’s visit, certain discounts will be given to PWDs,” he said.
The Kaduna state LP chairman decried the absence of PWDs in key positions of power, noting that it not only disregards their rights but also hampers the government’s ability to make well-rounded and inclusive decisions. The party argued that diversity in the cabinet is crucial to understanding and addressing the varied needs of the population.
“We are not satisfied with how the current administration is treating PWDs. I have not seen a minister or adviser or commissioner appointed by any governors as a PWD. My call to the government is that they should consider giving them appointments. You see, they just mentioned that there are up to 35 million PWDs. That is about 30 percent of the Nigerian population.”
In his remarks, TAF Africa’s Assistant Program Manager, George Dominic Amwai, said the group visited LP secretariat in Kaduna, as part of their advocacy to political parties, for the inclusion of PWDs in the party activities. He said they want parties to create a level playing field that allows PWDs participate in electioneering activities.
