South-South Women with Disabilities has appealed to President Bola Tinubu, to appoint Dr. Adenike Tejuosho, as Minister for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation.
The Chairperson of the association, Mrs Ada Tari, made the appeal, while addressing newsmen in Yenagoa, Bayelsa.
Earlier in the year, the President ordered the suspension of Dr Beta Edu as Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation.
The Disability communities across the country have made the demand for appointment of Tejuosho as Edu’s replacement, at various fora.
Tari said: “As we are all aware, the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation has been vacant, following the suspension of the Minister.
“It is on this point that South-South Women with Disabilities Association is recommending and passionately appealing to the President to appoint one of our mothers, to fill in the vacuum.
“The association has its members across Niger Delta Region, which comprises all the disability clusters of physically challenged, blind, deaf, people affected by leprosy, the spinal cord injury and albinism.
She added: “We have gathered here today in Yenagoa, to appreciate and congratulate President Tinubu on successful one year in office, including his progressive policies of the renewed hope agenda.
“As women with disabilities, we also want to use this opportunity to thank our caring mother of the nation, the First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Sen. Remi Tinubu, for her firm support to Mr President.
“We also thank her for the agricultural support she recently extended to women and youths, as well as People With Disabilities across the country”.
Tari noted that people with disabilities are the most vulnerable members of the society and the vacuum in the ministry of humanitarian and poverty alleviation is affecting them negatively.
“We therefore join several other groups and individuals to drum support for Mrs Halimat Adenike Tejuosho who has over the years distinguish herself as a true humanitarian to be appointed as the Minister,” she stressed
Tari reiterated that the absence of a Minister to occupy the particular office, has negatively affected the renewed hope agenda with respect to providing succour to the less privileged.
“Looking at her track record and if given the opportunity, Hajiya Tejuosho, will continue to extend her generosity and passion by upgrading the living standard of PWDs, less privileged and the vulnerable in Nigeria,” she said