Ahead of general elections next year, the arm of Persons With Disabilities on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has called on over 30 million members of the community in Nigeria to secure their Permanent Voters’ Cards(PVCs) to participate in the forthcoming elections.
Rising from a strategic meeting of leaders of Persons With Disabilities(PWDs) of the ruling party, National Leader of the group, Tolu Bankole in a communiqué stated that it has become pertinent for members especially in APC to register for the elections if they hope to change their fortunes and achieve their dream of a better standard of living.
He said under his watch, the leadership of PWD in APC is determined to change the narratives with increased advocacy for better life for all of its over 30 millions members spread across the country.
He however noted that the bulk of the task to change their stations in life depends largely on getting their names on the voters’ register and how well they are able to mobilize support for candidates of the party across board.
“Our quest to change the economic fortunes of the members of the PWDs community through dignifying, resourceful and sustainable opportunities will gain momentum soon. We will put in place workable plans and program, designed in recognition of the peculiarities of the needs and challenges of each zone”.
“Approvals have been given to all zonal leaders to initiate and implement program in their zones and the respective states”.
“We will scale up our advocacy for better life for PWDs via economic empowerment and financial inclusion”.
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The group also called on stakeholders especially State Governors and the Speakers of the various State Houses of Assembly to passage and domestication of the Discrimination Against Persons With Disabilities Act, as signed by President Muhammadu Buhari in 2018.
“We passionately appeal to the state Governors, Speakers of State House of Assembly and distinguished stakeholders to ensure immediate passage and domestication of the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act, 2018 as signed by our dearest President Muhammad Buhari as a matter of urgency and life saving.”
According to the group, the only legacy “any Governors can bequeath to the PWDs community is to domesticate the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act, 2018 in his state. “
All of this is as the community of PWDs in APC yearns for bigger stakes in terms of political appointments in the scheme of things.
“We are looking forward to seeing the appointment of PWDs as Ministers, Commissioners, Chairpersons of major statutory boards and parastatals of government henceforth”.
The APC, zonal leaders passed a “vote of confidence on the leadership of the party at all levels.
Editor, Omor Bazuaye
