THE recurring protests by physically challenged persons in some states of the federation with regard to their welfare and official responses are a sad comment on the governance process. This is increasingly the case as this category of citizens who require some form of assistance insist on their right to human dignity. The true measure of a society lies in its treatment of its less privileged members. Unfortunately, such agitation for better treatment in the past by the less privileged met with little or no success. It is time government in collaboration with civil society defined a comprehensive and meaningful framework for addressing the concerns of the physically challenged in our midst.
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The latest group of protesters, members of an association of visually impaired graduates and non-graduates, recently disrupted economic activities in Owerri, Imo State, as they marched on the Government House, alleging insensitivity to their plight by the state government. Before the Owerri protest, another group of physically challenged persons had protested on the streets of Jalingo, the Taraba State capital over the failure of the National Directorate of Employment (NDE) to pay certain grants allegedly promised them at the end of their training in various vocations, to help them set up small businesses.
The key message in these protests is clear. The physically challenged are saying that they deserve the support of both public and private sectors; that they are no longer prepared to be a burden to anybody in spite of life's challenges. Often, both government and other stakeholders treat the physically challenged condescendingly, placing emphasis on charity instead of rights and justice.
The displeasure of the Owerri group centred on the non-provision of employment opportunities for them after graduation. They also protested the alleged stoppage of bursary and scholarship allowances to their members despite several appeals to the state government. Group spokesman Mr. Clinton Amaechi was particular about the neglect by the present administration: "Since this administration came to power, the disabled persons in the state have been experiencing a lot of difficulties. So many of us have graduated and we don't have jobs." Again, that touches on the rather difficult situation the country faces over employment generation initiatives. The unemployment index in the country continues to rise, with many Nigerians placed at a disadvantage.
Amaechi's touching comments in refuting claims of government officials in the media that his association had been taken care of should be investigated by Governor Ikedi Ohakim. The same goes for the disclosure that nobody pays them (visually challenged students) the allowances and bursary any longer "since this administration came on board". The governor was reportedly away at the time of the protest. He should feel obliged to respond to the physically challenged persons' concern. It is particularly not good enough that the protest was brought under control by Government House security staff who raised emergency fund for the blind graduates on compassionate grounds, because no government official was available to attend to them.
Mr. Ohakim should not rule out the possibility of deceit by government functionaries. That, of course, has been the trademark of some government departments or agencies that are supposed to cater for special groups in society. With political scientists, lawyers and other professionals among them, the blind graduates do not deserve the harrowing experiences they are being subjected to (or to be left to moan their fate) after struggling to acquire higher education.
Allowing the students among them to suffer deprivation or ignoring the graduates is a reflection of the poor state of affairs in the country. The resolve of the graduates among them to work, and not to beg for survival, should encourage both the state government and the private sector to consider them for employment.
The incidents in Imo and Taraba states are by no means peculiar. This is a national problem which deserves the attention of the Federal and state authorities as well as the private sector and civil society groups. Bills could be considered as a matter of priority by the various legislative houses to review existing welfare provisions - if they are found inadequate - to address the fears that have been expressed. But in the long run the best approach is to create opportunities for all categories of Nigerians. The environment is hostile for both the able-bodied and the physically challenged raising serious questions about the quality of human life in the country.
The economy should be revitalised, investor-confidence needs to be restored to create an economy where persons can be gainfully employed, including the weak and vulnerable. A social security scheme, once proposed but abandoned, would also prove useful as a means of transforming Nigeria into a citizen-friendly and compassionate society.
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