Gov. Gboyega Oyetola of Osun, on Thursday, said that his administration would continue to protect the interest of persons with disabilities (PWDs) in the state.
Oyetola stated this at an engagement programme with members of Joint National Association of Persons With Disabilities (JONAPWD), Osun chapter, in Osogbo.
The governor, who was represented by his Special Adviser on Civic Engagement, Mr Olatunbosun Oyintiloye, said that his administration was committed to the welfare of PWDs.
According to him, people with disabilities are important members of the society and, therefore, deserve to be well catered for.
As a demonstration of the importance of PWDs, the governor said that an executive bill, tagged: “Special People’s Bill” had been forwarded to the House of Assembly to ensure their protection.
When passed, he said that the bill would ensure that persons with disabilities were safeguarded against any form of discrimination, while they would also have equal access to an environment conducive to social and economic development.
On other intervention programmes, Oyetola said that PWDs were also given priority during the state government’s free monthly food distribution exercise.
He noted that a reasonable number of them also benefited from the Community for Social Development Project (CSDP) and training at skill acquisition centres, especially those built for persons with disabilities in various parts of the state.
According to him, parts of his administration’s social intervention programmes are: survival loans, COVID-19 palliatives, special grant transfer programme under YESSO, in collaboration with World Bank.
“Also, more than 300 PWDs are benefiting from the N10,000 monthly grant of the state government’s “Gbowo Ga” scheme for empowerment.
“You can be rest assured that I will continue to protect your welfare and interest in further unfolding opportunities”, the governor said.
On the July 16 governorship election in the state, Oyetola urged them to obtain their permanent voter cards (PVCs) and vote for him, for continuity and development, assuring that if re-elected, he would not disappoint them.
Also speaking, Special Adviser to the Governor on Youths, Sports and Special Needs, Mr Adegboyega Adelabu, said that the ministry was working on the Special People’s Bill to encapsulate the needs of PWDs.
Adelabu said that the bill, when passed, would establish PWDs Commission for their benefits.
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On his part, the Commissioner for Commerce, Industry, Cooperative and Empowerment, Dr Bode Olaonipekun, said that the state government had organised several trainings for the PWDs, with start-up packages.
Olaonipekun urged members of the association to submit their members’ database to enable government to offer them further assistance.
In his response, Spokesperson of the PWDs, Mr Sunday Smith, commended the governor for the various social intervention and empowerment programmes given to them.
Smith said that members of the association were solidly behind the governor who, he said, had performed well in all sectors.
“We enjoy the benefits of the monthly food distribution, Osun Health Insurance Scheme (OHIS), empowerment and training with startup packages.
“However, we request for more appointments, recruitment slots, empowerment programmes and means of conveying us to various places,” he said.
(NAN)
