Provision of employment for Persons With Disabilities (PWDs) is not an act of charity, but a recognition of their qualifications, abilities and capacity to contribute to society.
The chairman, Abia State Commission for the Welfare of Persons With Disabilities, Dr. David Anyaele, stated this while interacting with PWDs working in the state civil service in Umuahia, the capital, yesterday.
He said, ”I’m here to interact with you and to appreciate the issue around your request for the extension of years of service and restoration of disability allowance for PWDs from the state in the service.
”It is an opportunity to understand what has worked and the challenges being experienced by PWDs.. It is our intention to document key issues raised here for possible policy intervention.”
He noted that there are various laws and conventions that mandate the protection, inclusion and active participation of PWDs in social and economic activities without discrimination.
”They include the State Disability Law, Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities,” he said.
He added that Governor Alex Otti is committed to creating policies and programmes that would reverse a long history of uncharitable treatment of retirees, PWDs and the vulnerable.
The secretary of the Association of Civil Servants with Disabilities, Sam Ekeoma, said there are institutional, environmental and administrative barriers hindering their effeciency.
He said inaccessible roads and office environments do not only increase transportation expenses for members but also lead to workplace discrimination and non-assignment of responsibilities to them.
Ekeoma, who raised concerns about the non-implementation of statutory salaries, allowances and other benefits provided under existing disability laws, noted that it was not deliberate.
He appealed to the commission to engage the head of the civil service and the local government service commission to ensure these entitlements are fully enforced.