PWDs alleges non inclusion, as Bauchi concludes palliative distribution

Samuel Luka, Bauchi

As Bauchi state government concluded the distribution of fuel subsidy palliative, People With Disabilities (PWD) have alleged non inclusion in the exercise.

The Bauchi state Chairman of People Living With Disabilities (PWDs), Abdullahi Isma’il stated this while responding to stories about completion of distribution of palliatives by the state Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management. yesterday.

The PWDs chairman therefore, pleaded with Governor Bala Mohammed of the state to as a matter of urgency, investigate how the items including some amount of money were distributed across the state without carrying along his members.

“But it’s sad that the vulnerable group and persons with disabilities didn’t get their own part of the palliatives”, the PWDs Chairman had said while reacting to the story.

“We’re the right people to be considered first before any creature in the state.
We were first advised to be patient and that the palliatives will reach us after the palliatives committee have distributed the palliatives to all the 20 LGAs in the state before they came to us instead of considering us first.”, He lamented.

According to Abdullahi Isma’il, his members were waiting patiently as required but disappointed for not getting while the distribution lasted.

“Only those few members that they selected during the commissioning of the palliatives were given. After the commissioning, the distribution stopped.” He revealed.

While appreciating the state Governor, Bala Mohammed for releasing the palliatives for Persons with disabilities, Abdullahi Isma’il informed that the palliative didn’t get to them.

Isma’il argued that since the ministry can go round and distribute the palliatives to all the 20 LGA , they can at least do same by giving 5% of the palliatives to the disabled people in their respective LGAs.

The PWDs chairman who opined that it could have more easier to carry along his members by sending disabled palliatives to the Bauchi State Agency for Persons with Disabilities, further advised the state government to conduct special census for Persons with disabilities through the Bauchi State Agency for Persons with disabilities.

According to him, knowing the actual figure of PWDs in the state would assist the government in knowing the unemployed among them for proper planning.

“Our palliatives was also hidden somewhere, Sir.
The media should help us to tell them to release it for us please”, said.

Reacting to the complain, Bashir Hassan who is an ally of the commissioner, Bauchi state ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, Hajiya Hajara Yakubu Wanka, assured that Abdullahi’s message will be channel to her.

“But you should understand that even if the entire 100,000 bags is being given to PWDs in the state, it will still not be enough to go round each of them”, Bashir had said.

He reminded the chairman of the PWDs that there are other vulnerable groups apart from his members.

“Our population in Bauchi State is close to 6 million people, out of which greater part of that number are living below the poverty line”, Bashir Hassan said.

According to him,”I want to say, without any fear of contradiction, that the distribution committee has done its best in the equitable sharing of the rice palliative, but certainly you can’t expect it to reach each and everyone PWD in the State.” He added.