The Commandant General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Abdullahi Gana Muhammadu, has eulogized President Muhammadu Buhari for his magnanimity in creating the office of Senior Special Assistant to the President on Disability Matters, describing it as the first of its kind in Nigeria.
The CG made this assertion when the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Disability Matters, Dr. Samuel Ankeli and his entourage paid courtesy visit to the NSCDC National Headquarters, Abuja.
In his remarks, Dr. Ankeli thanked the Commandant General for the warm reception given him and his team, pointing out that they came to intimate the Agency on the need for welfare package for over 25 million Persons with different disabilities in Nigeria.
Samuel thanked President Buhari immensely for creating an office to accommodate disable persons in his administration, which through this office their plight will always be looked into and addressed.
The Senior Special Assistant noted, that this is the first of its kind in Nigeria, calling on other citizens not to in any way look down on persons with disability affirming that they can meaningfully contribute their quota to national growth.
Dr. Samuel maintained that they are looking forward to be integrated into the social activities nationwide. He disclosed that the core reason for partnering with the NSCDC is due to the violation of the Rights of Persons with disability.
He called for policies to be put in place so that 10% of PWD can be employed in both public and private organizations nationwide. He highlighted that they also desire to partner the NSCDC in the area of capacity building for the PWD. He posited that the PWD can excel in the Intelligence Gathering World, and they will not fail to deliver.
The Commandant General in his response, congratulated Dr. Samuel Ankeli for his appointment as the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Persons with Disability, at the same time, appreciating the President and Commander-In-Chief for taking utmost care to include the PWDs in his administration which is the first of its kind in any Nigerian Government since inception.
Gana assured the Senior Special Assistant of a firm collaboration between the NSCDC and the Persons with Disability in Nigeria, pointing out that the NSCDC as a Grassroots Security Agency cannot put away Persons with disability.
The Leader of the Civil Defence harping on the policy to accommodate the PWDs said, ”I am calling on the Federal Government to put in place a national policy making it mandatory that Persons with disability should be employed in both public and private organizations in Nigeria, but they should start with 5% and then progress to the 10% they are asking for”
Muhammadu disclosed that in the NSCDC, when an Officer is affected with disability such a Personnel is co-opted into the Intelligence Unit, except if such an officer wants to resign willingly, maintaining that, the Corps takes care of its own in a special way.
ACC EMMANUEL OKEH
CDPRO