By Aishatu Haruna
Ahead of an approved training and support package for People with Disabilities (PWDs), the Honourable Commissioner, Ministry of Women, Children and the Disabled, Hajiya Aisha Lawan Saji, has met with various leaders of the disabled across Kano and the four emirate councils.
The meeting which was held at the Conference room of the ministry on Thursday had in attendance leaders (sarakuna) of PWD from Kano, Karaye, Rano, Gaya, and Bichi.
Delivering an opening address at the meeting, the Permanent Secretary, Dr. Sa’adatu Sa’idu Bala, ably represented by the Director of Administration and General Services (DAGS), Hajiya Mariya Hodi, described the meeting as the first of its kind.
She said the meeting was specifically called by the Commissioner to enable her to have firsthand knowledge of their worries. The DAGD then wished them a fruitful deliberation.
The meeting which witnessed a large turn-out of leaders of PWDs commenced with a brief introduction and later, a rollout of a long list of challenges, appeals, and demands.
With the rampant appeal of an increase in monthly allowance topping the list, the leaders present also made a near-unanimous call for the resuscitation of centers located at the 44 local government councils of the state.
According to most of them who spoke on the issue, the resuscitation of the centers will bring skills acquisition training closer to them and ensure a better life for them and their families.
Also, put forward for consideration by the government was a plea for additional special schools for PWD, a way which the leaders argued is the only solution to the disturbing issue of street begging.
Acknowledging their personal disdain for street begging within and outside Kano, some of them who made the plea, argued that begging is a last option necessitated by lack of education and, or an acceptable source of income.
Other challenges put forward by the leaders were exclusion from the civil service, and lack of operational and, or functional vehicles, despite the fact that their offices are recognized by governments at various levels.
They also complained about the lack of government patronage of their finished products, lack of representation in political appointments, and delay in payment of entitlements, citing the current delay in the release of the year 2022 entitlement for the annual prayer trip to the Niger Republic.
Responding, the Honourable Commissioner said the purpose of the meeting was to meet with them face-to-face and directly get to know their problems as ‘this is a payback period for a group of people whose roles in Governor Abb’s victory cannot be forgotten”.
Speaking further, she assured that the government, through her ministry, has numerous plans for them, but quickly added that such supportive plans can only be realizable with their cooperation and prayers.
This can be done, she added, by making themselves available for training and by committing to the purpose of any support package given to them, revealing that there will be a monitoring and evaluation team to ensure this.
Honourable Saji also promised to look into the issue of entitlement for prayer trips to the Niger Republic so as to know where the problem lies.
She also used the opportunity to inform them of plans by the government to include PWD in programs that will fall within the government’s 100 days in office.
The Commissioner, therefore, assured them of support soon and asked them to continue to pray for the government.
