The Northern Nigerian Disability Forum (NNDF) has lauded President Bola Tinubu for appointing one of their members, Mohammed Abba-Isa, as his Senior Special Assistant on Disability Matters.
Chairman of the forum, Mr Yarima Sulaiman-Ibrahim, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Katsina.
He said the appointment showed the determination of the president to carry along all the citizens, irrespective of their physical, social or other statuses.
“Appointing Abba-Isa is a clear demonstration of President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
“We hope the appointee will not disappoint Mr President and the people he is representing.
“That is because, this is the first in the history of Nigeria for a President to appoint a disabled as one of his aides.
“We have suffered neglect for long, thank Allah for bringing Tinubu who is trying to draw us more closer into the government,” he said.
Sulaiman-Ibrahim, therefore, urged the appointee to do everything possible to assist the president in enhancing the living condition of the People Living With Disabilities(PWDs).
He also urged the Federal Government to do more in supporting their education, healthcare and improving their social welfare.
He opined that doong so would prevent them from depending on street begging, hence make them self reliant.
Sulaiman-Ibrahim further urged the president to design a special skills acquisition programme for the PWDs and support them with soft loans to set up businesses in their respective domicilities.
He added,”This will enable them to have a sense of belonging like other citizens and contribute positivity to nation building.”
The chairman further urged the president to allocate five per cent of appointments to PWDs in the country.
Sulaiman-Ibrahim said, “We have members with higher educational qualifications who could deliver when given the mandates.”
