People with disabilities (PWDs) have appealed to the Ondo State Government to incorporate them in the budgetary allocations of the State in all sectors of the economy.
The group, led by Olajide Benjamin, Executive Director, Disability Not A Barrier Initiative(DINABI), made the appeal on Sunday when they visited the leadership of NUJ, Ondo State Council in Akure.
Benjamin, a Computer Engineer, told the leadership of NUJ, under the chairmanship of Leke Adegbite that what the government had been doing for the PWDs in Ondo State was charity and not giving them their rights.
According to him, “what we are asking from the Ondo State government is equity, inclusion and justice in government programmes.
BusinessDay reports that the group, also called on the parents not to keep indoors, their children who are with one disability or another.
Benjamin, who said there are medical solutions to most of the disabilities, noted that there’s no way such could be attended to if kept indoors.
He said; “In DINABI, we promote equity, inclusion and justice for PWDs. So, we are asking NUJ to help us create an awareness among the people, particularly those in the corridor of power, to draw the attention of the Ondo State government to attend to our needs.
“We don’t want sympathy, we don’t want pity, we don’t want charity measures, but our rights. We are also appealing to parents who have children with disabilities not to keep them indoors. There’s nothing to be ashamed of because a child has one disability or another. Afterall he or she didn’t create himself or herself that way.
“There are medical solutions to most of these disabilities, all we need to do is bring them to us and we will direct you to the appropriate quarters to solve the problem,”
Leke Adegbite, the Ondo NUJ Chairman in his response, assured that journalists in the state would not relent in their efforts in ensuring the voice of the people are heard by the government and all stakeholders.
Adegbite, who was represented by the Vice Chairman of the NUJ Council, Ayodeji Alabi said; “we are aware of some of your challenges, I want to promise you that all journalists in Ondo State would not relent in their efforts in being the amplifiers of voice of the people.
“I want to implore you to carry us along in your advocacy and other programmes for us to give you all necessary support from our side.”
