EKITI GOVT. LAUDED FOR EMPLOYING 67 DISABLED PERSONS
The Ekiti State Chapter of Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONADP) has commended the State Governor, Engr. Segun Oni for employing 67 persons with disabilities into the state public service.
The State President of JONADP, Mr Peter Ojo who gave the commendation during a visit to the governor in his office lauded the Oni-Administration for increasing the scholarship grants of disabled students in tertiary institutions from N50, 000 to N150, 000 per
student and for procuring two 18-seater buses for each of the three
special schools in the State within the last 3 years.
He said the Rights of Persons with Disabilities law initiated by
Oni-administration had gone a long way in safeguarding the rights of people with disabilities and also made it mandatory for physically challenged people with the pre-requisite academic qualification be given automatic employment by the state government.
The JONADP President noted that the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act of Ekiti State was already being replicated by other states of the federation, using the State example.
He commended the state government for constructing new classrooms, hostel accommodation and other infrastructure at the permanent site of the school of the mentally retarded and the physically challenged, Ikoro-Ekiti as well as he School of the Deaf, Ikoro-Ekiti.
Ojo called on the Oni-Administration to extend the scholarship scheme and the State Digital Education Programme to physically challenged students in the state technical colleges
Responding the Ekiti State Governor, Engr Segun Oni said any physically challenged person in the state, who possesses genuine qualification, will be offered automatic employment.
Governor Oni, who described the physically challenged as special people, stressed that the present administration would continue to champion the cause of the physically challenged and other vulnerable groups in the state.
“`You are entitled to automatic employment; scholarship and health services. They are your rights. You should not beg for them. Don't accept sympathy from anybody. You are not people to be sympathised with but people to be encouraged, Oni said.
The Governor said the employment of 67 handicapped so far by his administration falls beyond expectation, noting that disables throughout the state should come out and benefit from the gesture.
He lamented the poor implementation of government policies on the disable persons in the state, urging those in positions of authority to ensure thorough and timely implementation of government policies for the sake of their beneficiaries.