From Francis Nansak ,Lafia
The senator representing Nasarawa South in the National Assembly and immediate past governor of Nasarawa state, Dr Umaru Tanko Al-Makura ,on Saturday in his constituency office ,Lafia,, thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for the establishment of Disability Commission.
The senator who played host to leaders of various organisations of physically-challenged people under the aegis of the All Progressives Party(APC) in the state, assured them that the commission will defend, protect and project the good image of people living with disability challenges, without discrimination across the country.
Dr Al-Makura stated that government will devote resources and commitment to the physically- challenged in the country as much as it gives to those living without any form of deformity.
He said: “This commission which Mr President finally established, those that will head its affairs had already been engaged, for speedy take-off, in line with it set out goals.
“Let me at this juncture assure you that with the establishment of this commission, Nigeria as a country has been enlisted to be among other top countries, considered as developed nations in the world.
“This is because there is an existing law which demanded that every country in the world most create and establish an agency that would cater for people living with disability, to exercise their rights, enjoy freedom of association and speech, as well as benefit from government provisions,” Al-Makura posited.
He further said with this development, which the president has perfected in the life of his administration, Nigeria can now benefit from certain incentives under the United Nations ,whereas in the past, the country was not getting.
On their part and speaking on behalf of others, the chairman APC disabled groups, Mr Saleh Barde, highlighted the reason for their visit to the former governor ,saying it was an initiative of people living with disability under the platform of the APC, who considered the president commitment to the plight of the physically-challenged, by the establishing the commission as a milestone achievement.
“This is one reason we are here, to thank Mr President through you, for pursuing our course as members of the society, against previous administrations who gave us no consideration,” Saleh said.
He urged the president that the commission be given the full right to function by implementing the law speedily in order to boosting the skills and capability of people living with disability in the country to contributing their quota to National growth.
