By Eric Ojo
Nigerian-Americans with Disabilities living in the United States have called for the immediate resignation of the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Hajia Sadiya Umar Farouq and the Executive Secretary, National Commission for Persons with Disabilities (NCPD), Mr. James Lalu.
The group and members of the Disabled Peoples Organizations (DPOs), who they represent said the minister and NCPD boss should honourably resign or be relieved of their appointments as a minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Executive Secretary of NCPD respectively by the Presidency.
In an open letter addressed to President Muhammadu Buhari, the group noted that their demand is premised on the plethora of serious, valid and verifiable civil, human and disability rights violations, which the minister knowingly conspired with a few others to commit against the interest of over 35 million Nigerians with Disabilities.
According to them, this group of persons include, the Almajiris, Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), wounded Nigerian Military Veterans, Police, ICPC, DSS, EFCC, Customs, Civil Defense Corps, retired civil savants and business men/women, who are suffering from age related disabilities and every Nigerian family.
“These seemingly blatant infractions on the part of the minister and her cohorts, we believe, are akin to crimes against humanity”, the group said in the letter which was signed on their behalf by Adaku Kalu, the President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Good Shepherd Initiative Inc.
The group further alleged that a number of scandalous corrupt practices and fraudulent activities have been reported, especially within the NCPD, an agency under the supervision of the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, presided over by Hajia Umar Farouq.
“When the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act 2018, was assented to and signed into law by His Excellency, President Muhammadu on January 23, 2019, he made huge historic legacy for himself, his administration, his family, his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), as well as over 35 million Nigerians with Disabilities.
“In response to our multiple requests and petitions made through Equal Rights for Persons with Disabilities International, Inc (ERPWDI), led by Chief Ndubueze Ufom, Kpakpando Foundation, led by the Distinguished Senator Osita Izunaso and JONAPWD-National, led by Miss Omotunde Ellen Thompson (BoT Chairperson), Mr. President assented to the Act, and subsequently established its independent, implementation body, the NCPD, on August 24, 2020, as the 8th National Assembly mandated”, the group added.
They also pointed out that the 8th National Assembly invoked their constitutional powers to Implement the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) and its Optional Protocol signed and ratified by Nigeria on March 30, 2007 and September 24, 2010, to enact, and pass into law, Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act, 2018, adding that the lawmakers did so pursuant to Nigeria’s Obligations under the UN Charter and its Treaty Agreement signed and ratified on October 7, 1960.
The group said the minister knowingly or deliberately and intelligently conspired with the NCPD executive secretary to refuse implementing the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act, 2018, UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), 2030 Agenda, as Mandated by both the Nigerian National Assembly and UN Member States, angered the entire Nigerians with Disabilities and their leaders.
They also accused both of them of deliberately refusing six Governing Council members of the NCPD from performing their Community-based, Grassroots fiduciary duties, at the six geographic zone of Nigeria, as mandated by the Constitution of Nigeria and Nigerians with Disabilities Act, 2018.
The group also alleged that Hajia Umar Farouq and Mr. James Lalu deliberately excluded the entire Diasporas and Notational pioneers’ leaders with disabilities, who for over 25 years were the actual people, who successfully advocated for Disability Policy Changes in Nigeria from continuing with the excellent jobs on advancing for their implementations, which include, the Nigerian Disabilities (Prohibition) Act, 2018 and its independent implementation body.
They were also accused of denying Nigerians with Disabilities their entitled Palliatives and other services, during COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing Post COVID-19 Economic Recovery.
“Hajia Umar Farouq, knowingly conspired with Mr. James Lalu and a few others to engage themselves into massive corruption, fraudulent activities and mismanagement of initial N275 million Start up fund, 2020-2022 Annual Budget allocations to the NCPD.
“In collaborations with Equal Rights for Persons with Disabilities International, Inc (ERPWDI), we demanded from the Auditor General of Nigeria to conduct forensic Audit of the NCPD and their final audit reports confirmed that Hajia Umar Farouq, actually, knowingly, conspired with Mr. James Lalu and a few others to commit the alleged acts of fraud and corruption.”, the group added.
They equally accused the minister and NCPD boss of conspiring with a few others, to stonewall investigation of the forensic audit, object justice, conceal and cover up facts surrounding 2020-2022 official reports of the Auditor General of the Federation who conducted the forensic audit of NCPD, adding they both conspired with few others, to grossly violate the aforementioned audit.
“The outcome of the aforementioned Forensic Audit report of the NCPD, showed that massive corruption, frauds and mismanagement of funds has occurred with the National Commission under the leadership of Mr. James Lalu, Executive Secretary and Hajia Umar Farouq, Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development.
“To make matters worse, Hajia Umar Farouq, knowingly conspired with Mr. James Lalu and a few others, to start massive persecutions, retaliations, representations, unnecessary harassment, discrimination, marginalization, exclusions from, meeting, training, conferences, seminars, programmes and services, against any person who is directly/indirectly associated with the network of ERPWDI and dare to speak the truth, especially, our Nigerian Journalists who speak up about the Truth and publish true valid and verifiable stories, on Disabilities matters.
“Therefore, in the light of the aforementioned valid assemblage of facts Your Excellency, we humbly and respectfully ask you to grant our request calling for the resignation of Hajia Umar Farouq, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development and Mr. James Lalu, Executive Secretary of NCPD or alternatively be fired urgently by the Presidency”, the group stressed.