Dr Samuel Ankeli, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Disability Matters, on Thursday, called on National Assembly to expedite action toward passing the bill on rights of Persons with Disabilities (PWD).
He made the call in a media briefing in commemoration of the International Day for Disabilities that would be marked on Dec. 2 and Dec. 3.
According to him, the bill will pave way for benefits and opportunities for PWDs and serve as clearing house for matters on disabilities.
Ankeli also called for extra budgetary allocation to resolve issues on disabilities, adding that people with disabilities should not be left out in the development of the country, especially on policy formation.
He said “my office encourages policies formation, projects and programmes that will favour people with challenges.”
The special assistant promised to seek redress on issues of violation of human rights for PWDs and urged them not to take laws into their hands.
He also called on NGOs working for the rights of PWDs to be serious, noting, however, that “my office is working on a strategy to get every person and organisation that is willing to work toward improving the lives of challenged persons.”
He advised that officers with disabilities in the Armed Forces be rehabilitated and deployed to where they could function optimally without any discrimination.
Ankeli decried the public perception of PWDs, stressing that they were Nigerians with equal rights which must be respected. (NAN)
