The Forum for Disability Inclusion in Nigeria (FODIN) has called for review of the recently created COVID-19 Palliative Committee to accommodate the National Joint National Associations of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD) and other stakeholders.
In a statement, Sunday jointly signed by convener, Paul Ihekwoaba and Malam Ahmed Mohammed Nasir, secretary general, the group stated that the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development “was wrongly advised or misled to have engaged in a meeting with a group of persons that has no mandate to represent persons with disabilities.”
According to the Forum, JONAPWD with its structure in all the 36 states and Abuja, down to the local government and ward levels, is the only recognised body championing the cause of the disability community in Nigeria since 1992.
While commending the ministry for its effort to include the PWDs in the distribution of COVID-19 palliatives, the group said, “It will be therefore a misnomer and an aberration administratively and politically for a new ministry such as Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs vested with the responsibility of overseeing the affairs of more than 27.5 million Nigerians with disabilities to engage on behalf of the disability community an individual or any single disabled people’s organisations –DPOs registered or unregistered body in running the affairs of persons with disabilities in Nigeria.”
The statement further read: “The Forum wishes to salute the effort of the federal government of Nigeria through the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development in trying to respond to the quest for inclusion of persons with disabilities in the scheme of things especially with regards to COVID-19 management and control.
“Albeit, we have observed with regret though that, the Hon. Minister was wrongly advised or misled to have engaged in a discussion/meeting with a group of persons that has not the mandate to represent persons with disability as an umbrella body.”
“The organisation is also registered by the Corporate Affairs Commission, recognized by all federal and states government institutions and parastals, and so many other development and non-government agencies.”
