Buhari’s aide decries payment of N5,000 stipends

Senior Special Assistant to the President on Disability Matters, Dr. Samuel Ankeli, yesterday, protested to the National leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) over the disbursement of N5000 monthly stipend to the poorest of the poor as part of the Federal Government social intervention, saying the physically-challenged were not adequately taken care of.

Ankeli who spoke with newsmen after his meeting with the National Chairman of the party Chief John Odigie-Oyegun said he was not satisfied with the level of participation of People Living with Disability in the scheme, adding that he came to brief the party leadership about the disenchantment.

He, however, reminded Nigerians living with disability that being disabled is not a license to disobey laws in the land, stressing that he was discussing with the Government of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) with a view to building a special market for physically challenged people living within the territory to do business.

He said, “I have raised the issue of the N5000 with the party chairman. Our participation is not encouraging and it is not to the level of my satisfaction and I have discussed that with the party. Just give me a little more time to work on that.

“If you look at the level, of social injustice, I think disbursement should actually begin with us. I accept that I am part of the Government and I am saying that which has been done concerning disability is not enough because I am not satisfied and I am doing all my possible best to increase the participation”.

Dr. Ankeli assured Nigerians that the disability bill currently with the National Assembly will assent to by the President once it is transmitted after its harmonization by the National Assembly.

“The bill has been passed four times by the National Assembly. In 2010, the bill was passed by both houses of the National Assembly and harmonized. I was in the harmonization committee, but the then President did not sign it till they left office.

“This time, I am part of those who gave the assurance and I have consulted with the party leaders to impress it on the National Assembly to bring out the harmonized bill which has been passed by both chambers.

“We are waiting for the harmonization so that it will be transmitted to the President and I can assure You that the President is waiting to sign it into law and we will have a National Commission for Disability Rights coming into existence”, he said.

Speaking on street trading by physically challenged people in Abuja, he said “the law does not discriminate against ability or disability. I will not support lawlessness and at the same time, I will not support idleness and street begging. It is our desire to have some structures and special market for them.

“I am already talking with the Government of the FCT and very soon, things will be resolved. So, please help me educate them that because you are disabled do not give you the guarantee to break laws and I don’t want any of them to be manhandled. It is a dynamic thing, but let us balances the pendulum”, he added.