Joint National Association of Persons With Disabilities,Niger Delta Region (JONAPWD) has issued a 14-day ultimatum to the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to immediately implement the provisions of the 2018 Discrimination Against Persons With Disabilities Prohibition Act,or risk a complete showdown.
The Association issued the statement while briefing Newsmen at the NUJ Press Centre in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.Reading the statement on behalf of the other 9 Chairmen of JONAPWD from the states that make up the NDDC,the Delta State Representative,Comrd Ernest Igbuzor named some of the provisions of the Act to include,non discrimination in employment,a minimum of 5% employment quota for persons with disabilities in public institutions,access to skills training and scholarships, among others.
JONAPWD lamented that eight years after the enactment of the Act, nothing has been done by NDDC as regards its implementation.The Association stressed that People living with disabilities do not want to be remembered in speeches and policy documents alone,but in employment figures, training programmes, scholarship lists and leadership.
“Persons with disabilities in the Niger Delta do not want to be remembered in speeches and policy documents alone.”We want to be seen in employment figures, training programmes, scholarship lists and leadership spaces .”Development that excludes persons with disabilities is not development,”Igbuzor said.
The Association warned that if after 14 days,their demands are not met,they would be left with no alternative than to occupy the NDDC premises.”The NDDC cannot claim to be making progress while leaving persons with disabilities behind.”Hence we are giving a 2-week ultimatum to the Management of NDDC to commence the implementation of our demands.
“We will be left with no option,but to mobilise and occupy the premises of NDDC at the expiration of this two week ultimatum,”JONAPWD declared.
