The Delta State Government has promised to continually carry along persons living with disabilities in the scheme of things in the state.
The Chief of Staff, Government House, Hon Prince Johnson Erijo, made the promise when a delegation of Forum of Challenged Persons in Service, Delta State, paid him a courtesy visit.
Hon Erijo noted that all human beings, whether challenged or not, are equal before God and should be treated as such, even as he condemned the sympathetic attitude of the society towards persons living with disabilities, instead of showing them empathy.
He said in recognition of persons in that category as critical stakeholders, the government had continued to offer employment opportunities to them in the state civil service, while many others had benefited and were still benefitting from various job creation and empowerment programmes.
On the problems facing members of the Forum, the Chief of Staff assured that they would be dispassionately looked into to make life more meaningful to them, pointing out that the hard times were more challenging to persons with disabilities.
Erijo urged persons living with disabilities not to resign to fate due to the situation they found themselves in, emphasizing that they should strive to create possibilities out of their disabilities to be able to survive, instead of begging for alms or seeking public sympathy.
He commended members of the Forum for seeing the need to build their capacities, either through education or skills acquisition, which made it possible for them to gain employment in the civil service.
Earlier, the leader of the delegation and Chairman, Forum of Challenged Persons in Service, Delta State, Mr. Stephen Onwudiachi, expressed appreciation to Governor Sheriff Oborevwori for signing the Disability Bill into law, which he noted had given hope to persons living with disabilities in the state.
Mr. Onwudiachi also thanked the Governor for his commitment to the welfare of Deltans, expressing confidence that persons living with disabilities would continue to enjoy the support and care of the state government.
He, however, called on the state government to intervene in some critical issues affecting members of the Forum, including disability maintenance allowance, accommodation/low-cost housing, exemption from contributory pension scheme, fast tracking pension payment to retired disabled workers, career advancement, disabled – friendly office buildings, among others.
