Federal House of Representatives’ Committee on Disability has commended the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD) for its great feat just few months after it was establishment.
Rep. Princess Miriam Onuoha, Chairman of the Committee, gave the commendation when she and her members visited the Commission on an oversight function on Wednesday in Abuja.
“I want to thank the Executive Secretary of the Commission, Mr James Lalu, as it appears that this Commission is doing very well.
“Anytime you talk about disability, you exhibit a lot of passion for the persons with disability,” Onuoha said.
Similarly, a member of the Committee, Rep. Victor Mela Danzaria from Gombe State, appreciated Lalu for what he has been doing for the Commission and the over 31 million Nigerians with disability.
“I think there is need to discuss how to help and improve the work of this Commission. I feel this Commission is doing a great job.
“However, we want to see the great job reflect in our constituencies, because, if people in our constituencies see the good work that the Commission is doing and the opportunity they have, they will know that we care for them,” Danzaria said.
Another member, Rep. Olajide Olatubunsu from Oyo State, commended Lalu for his presentation on budget expenditure.
Speaking earlier, Lalu told the Committee that the Commission had done a lot for Persons with Disability (PWD), including enrolling them in the N-Power Programme and Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) under the National Social Investment Programme (NSIP).
Lalu also noted that a lot of PWDs were vaccinated against the Corona virus.
On the 2021 budget performance, Lalu said it has achieved about 71.67 per cent.
He said the Commission will provide scholarships for PWDs across the country to study in Nigeria and outside the country, adding that a curriculum for disability inclusion for tertiary institutions in the country has been developed.
The NCPWD boss also explained that the life of PWDs would be enhanced no doubt and that the commission is collaborating with the Nigeria Police to have sign language interpreters in all police formations to help fight and protect the rights of PWDs.
Lalu said the Commission would also provide support to para-lympians who made the country proud during the recent Paralympics in Japan.He noted with regret the challenges being faced by PWDs in the Ministry of Sports.
Onuoha asked Lalu to furnish the Committee with the full activities of the Commission, including the names, States and Local Government of beneficiaries of the NSIP to which Lalu confidently affirmed he would.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that those present at the meeting were the management staff of the Commission and Committee members. (NAN)