By Angela Atabo

The European Union Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria (EU-SDGN) has called for an inclusive government and appointment of persons with disabilities into key positions in the country.

Members of the EU-SDGN said this in a statement on Thursday in Abuja at the end of the ‘Able to Serve” event.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that EU-SDGN is an European Union funded programme, aimed at reinforcing democracy in Nigeria through six component areas.

The areas included support to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), support to the National Assembly, judiciary and political parties.

Others were support to media, support to women, youth and persons with disabilities and support to Civil Society Organizations (CSOs).

Mr Jake Epelle, Chief Executive Officer, TAF Africa, and implementing partner for EU-SDGN said there was need for Nigeria, especially the current administration, to hear the voicess of PWDs that they were qualified for any and every appointive office.

“The President Bola Ahmed Tinubu should take the bull by the horns and appoint persons with disabilities as Ministers.

“Let him take pride in being the first President to do that; Elected Governors across the sub-national should also appoint persons with disabilities as Commissioners.

“We are grateful that in the past, we have been appointed Special Advisers and some other Heads of Establishments, especially establishments for PWDs , but we need to go a notch higher. Who says we cannot be Ministers?,” he said.

Epelle called on governments at all levels to appoint a person with disability as Minister.

“Hold me responsible and we will make sure that, that person will perform. We may be disabled in our physical body, but we have the ability in our brain.

“If you take us out of governance, then what you’re going to run is an exclusive government, and an exclusive government is not a government of national unity,” he said.

Epelle said that if Nigeria truly want to run a government of national unity, then that government should be inclusive of all, irrespective of their gender, status and religion.

He said that whatever needed to be done so that everyone would sit on the table would be the way forward.

Epelle said that PWDs were very prepared to serve.

According to him, they are PhD and Master’s degree holders, but it’s not just about the degree but because of their preparation for leadership.

“We have the right people that will make us proud. Just give us the opportunity, that is what we are asking for. When you pursue true inclusion, it eliminates cultural stereotypes.

“Service is not written on anybody’s face. Give everybody that is qualified the chance to serve. Don’t give us a Minister because we are PWDs.

“Give us a Minister because we have the ability to run that office, make a difference and be part of nation building,” he said.

Ms Auta Lois, Founder, Network of Women with Disabilities, said there was need to remind policy makers and decision makers, traditional leaders, clergy, student groups, civil society organizations, media institutions, and other stakeholders that PWDs have the right to be appointed and elected into a public office.

Dr Chike Okogwu, Founder, Center for Ability, Rehabilitation and Empowerment (CARE), said the impact of the kind of programme, “Able to Serve”, would increase inclusion of persons with disabilities in governance.

Okogwu said that including persons with disabilities in governance should not be only because they were PWDs.

He said that beyond them being persons with disabilities, their capacity to deliver on the job given to them should play another important role.

The EU-SDGN cohort noted that there cannot be strong, effective and legitimate democratic institutions without the inclusion and participation of persons with disabilities.

He said that while majority of PWDs were not elected in the just concluded general elections, there was still an opportunity for their inclusion in appointive positions in government at National and State levels.

NAN reports that members of EU-SDGN cohort included DAI Global, Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC), Yiaga Africa, Kukah Centre, International Press Centre (IPC), Institute for Media and Society (IMS), Nigerian Women Trust Fund (NWTF), ElectHER, and TAF Africa.

Others were SOS Children’s Villages, Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA), Justice, Development and Peace Commission (JDPC), Justice Development and Peace Initiative, and Justice, Development & Peace Makers’ Centre (JDPMC). (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Chidinma Agu/Ali Baba-Inuwa

By Naomi Sharang

Sen. Abdul Ningi (PDP-Bauchi) says senators at the 10th National Assembly will not be a laid back legislators.

Ningi who represents Bauchi Central, said this when he spoke with newsmen in Abuja on Wednesday saying that they were not going to be confrontational.

“We are not going to be confrontational as we have never been. But we are not going to be laid back legislators. To make sure we understand some things, we make sure they understand our powers to make sure that we understand our limitations.

“We will outrightly inform the Executive of our powers under the Constitution, under the House Rules and under the legislative matters privileges.

“We are not going to be caged. I am very happy this afternoon that the first thing that the Senate President did was to call for an executive session with very exhausive deliberations.

“And am happy he has started on a very clean slate. “I can see that he is ready for this job and we have assured him that once he gives us our respect, we are going to accord him our full loyalty,” he said.

Ningi added:” We will also caution him that in spite of whatever happened, the Senate is the Institution that made him Senate President and the chairman of the National Assembly.

“Because he is a ranking senator he understands that on behalf of the people of this country over the years things have not been done so well that time will give us another opportunity to redo what we have not been able to do in the last couple of years.”

Ningi, a former Deputy Leader of the Senate, said that the nation was facing uncertainties some months ago, but with with the inauguration of the National Assembly, Nigerians would benefit from their experiences.(NAN)
(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Ali Baba-Inuwa

By Naomi Sharang

A cross-section of the newly inaugurated senators have commended the emergence of Sen. God’swill Akpabio (APC-Akwa-Ibom) and Sen. Barau Jibrin (APC-Kano) as Senate President and Deputy Senate President of the 10th Assembly.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Akpabio and Jibrin were on Tuesday, inaugurated as leaders of the 10th Senate.

Sen. Neda Imasuen (LP-Edo) commended the emergence of the duo.

He said that with the multiplicity of parties in the National Assembly, there would be a robust parliament.

“I’m very excited because we now have a robust parliament. It used to be two parties and we now have eight parties in the Senate.

“So the conversation will not be one sided or two sided; the conversation is going to be more robust and enterprising.

“It is going to be a situation where the debates cannot be partisan, it has to be a Nigerian debate. It is going to be good and better for the country.”

Sen. Abdul Ningi (PDP- Bauchi) said that the election was free and fair without much anticipated drama.

“That is what makes the institution of the Senate different. The animosity, the fear of what happened in the last two days completely vanished.

“You go into the hall and you see how people are embracing themselves and that is parliament and that is democracy.

“We have refused to be intimidated by any enforcement and that is why we said there must be an election.

“And those who came with the idea of theater party and the sitting government had the day we have no problem.

“We know we are in the minority. The position I took was not the position of my party but that of the minority caucus and you could see not all of us actually voted on the same page.

“Some people actually went to negotiate and that is parliament. But I believe in the six months or so we are going to bind together by putting the nation first.”

For Sen. Ede Dafinone (APC-Delta), it was a great day. The 10th Senate has been launched.

“We have a dynamic Senate President with an outstanding Deputy both with excellent reputation and excellent track records.

“We are hoping and praying they will follow the lead already given by  President Bola Tinubu who has hit the ground running. He has shone Nigerians that he is ready to get the job done and the national assembly must support him to do that.

“With two dynamic leaders in position, I hope Nigerians will see that the Senate is ready to hit the ground running as soon as possible.”

Dafinone said that he would bring his 30 years experience and qualification in accounting to bear as he takes up the task of legislation.

“In terms of the environment and accounting, I have quite some expertise. But aside from that, I’m a manufacturer and exporter. I have a rubber plantation in Delta we export rubber to Europe and China. I have been doing that for over 20 years.”

Sen. Osita Izunaso (APC-Imo) who had earlier stepped down for Akpabio  said that the most important thing was that democracy has been deepened.

“So it is not about winner or loser. There was no winner or loser because we are still first among equals.

“And you have to work diligently to carry the Senate along. The Senate is far different from the Executive where one man calls the shot. We are all equals; we are all colleagues; we are all sworn in today as senators.

“I wish Akpabio well as Senate President. If I had won, I would also expect him to support me. I will give him support.”

One of the female senators Ipalibo Banigo (PDP-Rivers) said that the 10th Assembly would be a transformational assembly that would touch lives of Nigerians

“Nigerians will feel our impact, ” she said.

She thanked God and her constituents, Rivers West for electing her into the position.

“I will make sure that everything that is a problem to my constituents is given due attention in the Senate, in the National Assembly.

“As a woman, I will work with other women to progress on the issue of gender.”

Sen. Francis Fadahunsi (PDP-Osun) said that the election was keenly contested.

“We will work together to ensure a rancour-free parliament.”(NAN)
(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Sadiya Hamza

By Naomi Sharang

Senators of Southeast geo-political zone on Monday endorsed Sen. Godswill Akpabio (APC-Akwa-Ibom) and Sen. Barau Jibrin (APC-Kano) as their choice candidates for Senate President and Deputy Senate President of the 10th Assembly, respectively.

The 10th Assembly is due for inauguration on Tuesday.

Imo’s Gov. Hope Uzodinma made this known in Abuja after a meeting he held with the 15 senators-elect of the Southeast geo-political zone.

“It was a meeting of the Southeast caucus of the Senate. All the 15 of them attended the meeting.

“We resolved to toe the line of the preferred candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the Senate to support Akpabio and Barau.

“As it has to do with the Senate president and the Deputy Senate president, the APC, with most senators-elect has preferred and recommended Sen. Akpabio and Sen. Jibrin.

“We have already agreed that we will vote according to the recommendation of our great party.

“We don’t want to go into any controversy of going into unnecessary blind opposition.

“We want to work under a constructive partnership across party lines in the Southeast region and that is actually my position.

“It is a good development for the region and for the unity of the nation,’’ Uzodinma told newsmen.

The Imo governor is also the chairman, Progressives Governors’ Forum (governors of APC-controlled states).

He noted that democracy is about engagements, discussions and dialogues.

“People are entitled to have aspirations. Because we are practicing partisan democracy, it is always assumed that loyalty to the party will always prevail.

“Whether you are Labour Party, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) or APC, Southeast is southeast and leadership is leadership.

“We think we will be more organised in the interest and unity of the country to work with the ruling party so our people will also have the opportunity to get dividends of democracy,’’ Uzodinma stressed.

“Engagement is continuing. I am leaving now for an important meeting to engage some senators-elect with opposing views to the choices already made.

“The rule of the business is; you will disagree first before you will agree. So having disagreed all these while, between now and Tuesday morning, we will all agree,’’ the governor added. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Alli Hakeem