Members of the Association of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) in Ebonyi State on Thursday staged a peaceful protest at the Government House in Centenary City, Abakaliki, urging Governor Francis Nwifuru to sign the Ebonyi State Disability Bill into law, improve their welfare, and halt an alleged plan to evict the association from its state secretariat.
The protesters also appealed to the state government to enroll all eligible members in the Ebonyi State Health Insurance Scheme and restore the monthly subvention they said had been discontinued after previous administrations.
Carrying placards with inscriptions such as “Persons with Disabilities Are Human Beings and Should Be Treated with Dignity, Not Like Animals,” “Governor Nwifuru, Stop the Commissioner for Health from Evicting Us from Our State Secretariat,” and “Commissioner for Health, Leave Us Alone,” the demonstrators called for urgent government intervention.
Addressing journalists during the protest, the State Chairman of the association, Comrade Friday Nwovu, said the group had written several letters to relevant government agencies over the alleged quit notice issued by the Ministry of Health but had yet to receive a satisfactory response.
Nwovu appealed to Governor Nwifuru to assent to the Ebonyi State Disability Bill, describing it as a landmark legislation that would safeguard the rights of persons with disabilities and promote their inclusion in governance and development.
“We are aware that the Ebonyi State Disability Bill is before Governor Francis Nwifuru awaiting his assent. We appeal to him to kindly sign the bill into law,” he said.
He also urged the governor to extend health insurance coverage to all members of the association and restore the monthly financial support previously provided by past administrations.
“We received monthly subventions from previous governments, including the immediate past administration. We appeal to our peace-loving governor to restore the subvention to improve the welfare of our members and their families,” Nwovu stated.
The association’s chairman further called on the governor to appoint qualified persons living with disabilities into key positions in his administration, saying the move would align with the People’s Charter of Needs agenda, which promotes inclusiveness and equal opportunities.
On the alleged plan to evict the association from its secretariat at Pressco Junction in Abakaliki, Nwovu appealed to the governor to direct the Ministries of Health and Women Affairs to suspend the action.
“Our greatest concern is the planned eviction from our secretariat. Because of our condition, we cannot easily relocate to another facility that lacks the accessibility and infrastructure required by persons with disabilities,” he said.
READ ALSO: Tinubu Dissolves Presidential Committee on Federal Properties, Hands Oversight to AGF Fagbemi
According to him, the association resorted to the peaceful protest only after exhausting all official channels through repeated correspondence with the relevant authorities.
Responding on behalf of the governor, the Chief of Staff, Prof. Emmanuel Echieagu, assured the protesters that the state government was committed to addressing their concerns.
Echieagu disclosed that Governor Nwifuru had concluded plans to sign the Ebonyi State Disability Bill into law and revealed that some members of the association had already been enrolled in the Ebonyi State Health Insurance Scheme.
“I had earlier conveyed your requests to the governor, including the appeal for assent to the Disability Bill. I want to assure you that your request has been favourably considered, and very soon the governor will sign the bill into law,” he said.
He also assured the protesters that the government would engage the relevant ministries and agencies to resolve the dispute over the association’s secretariat amicably.
