Benue Civil Service Secretariat Not Disability Friendly – IFA

November 02, (THEWILL) The Inclusive Friends Association (IFA) has decried the unfriendly nature of the Benue State Civil Service Secretariat, Makurdi, in which people living with disability hardly access it on official visits.

The Executive Secretary of IFA, Miss Grace Jerry, made the observation when she led a team of stakeholders on an advocacy visit to the Director General of Benue State Budget and Economic Planning Commission, Dr Jerome Andohol.

On arrival at the Secretariat, Ms Jerry, who was in a wheelchair, was lifted up by members into the Director General’s office due to the lack of RAAPS (walkways), which drew the attention of the government to address the situation.

She informed the DG that Benue is the remaining state in North Central Nigeria yet to domesticate the Disability Act, which is not good enough.

She, therefore, called for budgetary provision for education, health and welfare of people with disability in the state as well as passing the Act to involve them in the scheme of things.

In his remarks, the Special Assistant to the Governor on Disability Matters, Mr Bem Ashe, noted that Governor Hyacinth Alia’s administration is doing well in the area of inclusive governance, assuring to push for the domestication of the law in the state.

Responding, the Director General, Dr Jerome Andohol, said the Benue State Civil Service Secretariat, Makurdi, was built in the 1970s and is undergoing renovation by the present administration, assuring that walkways may be put in place to carry people with disability along to address their challenge.

He stated that so much has been done by the regime of Governor Alia for the disability group in the state, including appointments of their members into office among others.

The Director General who advised the team to extend the advocacy visit to the leadership of the Benue State House of Assembly, assured that the Commission will forward their demand to appropriate quarters for consideration.

Other stakeholders that accompanied IFA on the visit included the media, and disability groups in the state, among others.