Members of the Bauchi State Association of People with Disabilities, PWDs, have cried out over alleged discrimination in the government’s palliative distribution programme.
Chairman of the APWDs, Abdullahi Isma’il , who pointed out discrepancies in the distribution exercise, alleged the exclusion of their community.
He, therefore, urged the state governor, Bala Mohammed, to investigate how the items, including some money, were distributed across the state by the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management.
The Chairman in an interview with select journalists on Tuesday, emphasised the need for inclusion of persons with disabilities in future committees, while accusing the State Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management of hoarding palliatives.
His words, “We’re the right people to be considered first before any other group in the state. We were initially advised to be patient, with the assurance that the palliatives would reach us after being distributed to all 20 LGAs in the state. Unfortunately, this did not happen.”
“We patiently accepted their decision, but, in the end, nothing was given to us. Only a few members selected during the commissioning of the palliatives received anything. After the commissioning, the distribution stopped.”
According to him, “Our palliatives were also hidden somewhere, sir. The media should help us to tell them to release it for us, please. Besides, our account details were also collected for payment out of the palliatives money. Neither the money nor the foodstuff was given to us. The media should help us, please.”
He added ,“I also forgot to add that, during the commissioning of the palliatives at ATBU Stadium, His Excellency, Sen. Bala A Mohammed announced the release of 6,000 bags of rice with #60,000,000 for persons with disabilities only, but nothing was given to us by the committee for the palliatives,” he alleged.
“Another sad thing is that, after our caring Governor commissioned the palliatives, he said that 200 bags should be given to persons with disabilities along with N10,000 cheques as part of the commissioning before sharing the 6,000 bags of rice and money.
“It’s disheartening that they didn’t comply with what His Excellency announced.”
When contacted for reaction, the Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, Hajara Yakubu did not respond to calls and a text message sent to her.
Newspot reports that the palliative distribution committee in the state concluded the rice distribution exercise that had commenced last September to alleviate the hardship experienced by citizens of the state due to fuel subsidy removal.
The Federal Government, in August last year announced the release of N180 billion palliative package to states to cushion the impact of the fuel subsidy removal. Each state was expected to get N5 billion and 180 trucks of rice.
Yakubu at the closing ceremony held at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Stadium, held last week said that the distribution committee had done justice to the confidence reposed in it and had carried out the exercise inline with it’s terms of reference.
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