Brave Dickson
The Senior Special Adviser to Governor Nyesom Wike on Physically Challenged Matters, Hon Itekena Altraide has held what he described as his last office meeting with some physically challenged persons who are LGA coordinators and special advisers to LG chairmen to review employment and empowerment of their members during Governor Wike’s 1st tenure.
Addressing those in attendance, Hon Altraide praised the governor for having about 17 persons with disabilities (PWDs) in public sector employment during his first term in office.
Unveiling some achievements recorded so far since he assumed office as SSA to Wike on Physically Challenged Matters, Hon Altraide said, “we have been able to increase and establish our stakeholders’ database. Now we have more documented partners in the office.
“Some private sectors through our efforts have been able to make their offices accessible to PWDs. We have had about 35 scholarships. three employments in the private sector and 17 in the public sector.
“I have also communicated with my Principal, Governor Wike to employ 26 persons with disabilities to mark his 4th anniversary an inauguration.”
The governor’s aide on physically challenged matters also thanked some local government chairmen over the appointments of PWDs as their Special Advisers and appealed to others to do same.
“I have actually met with the 23 LGA chairmen to appoint PWDs as their SAs. Although we have had about 13 appointments now. Some are saying that they have not really gotten appointment letters but they have been mandated by their chairmen to start work.
“My office do not have the statutory power to coerce LG chairmen to appoint our nominees but we appeal to them to help appoint them because all our nominees were names submitted to us by popular majority of PWDs in their respective LGAs, Hon Altraide said.
In their separate speeches, the Senior Special Advisers to Emohua and Okrika Local Government Chairmen, Mr Elijah Fat Larry and Comrade Michael Kalio thanked Hon Altraide for working tirelessly for the welfare of persons with disabilities especially in the areas of employment and other social economic benefits.
They also called on governor Wike to consider retaining Hon Altraide as his SSA on physically challenged matters when he forms his 2nd tenure cabinet, adding that he has used the appointive opportunity given to him by the governor to sincerely carry PWDs in the state along.
Comrade Kalio however appealed to the governor to always include persons with disabilities in the programmes and ceremonies of government to enable them showcase their potentials.
Also the Coordinator for Khana LGA and Human Rights Activist, Comrade Ngo Baridaadoo appealed to the governor to still have Hon Altraide as his SSA on Physically Challenged Matters because he has demonstrated love on them, maintaining that Hon Altraide truly has the interest of PWDs at heart.
He therefore appealed to the governor to employ more PWDs in the state as a way of encouraging the skilled and educated ones.
Our correspondent reports that Hon Altraide through his office donated 10 brand new wheel chairs to 10 LGA coordinators, and assured other coordinators of getting theirs very soon
