On Thursday, the Independent
Corrupt Practices And Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) urged Nigerians
to fight corruption for improved society and success of the next generations.
The Chief Superintendent of the ICPC, Mr. Godwin Achile gave
the advice at the Symposium in commemoration of 2019 Disability awareness week
organised by Centre for Citizens with Disabilities in Enugu. Achile said that
corruption could be fought by everyone, irrespective of social status or
physical disability. He noted that thorough and holistic implementation of the
Disability Act would enable the persons living with disabilities to join in the
fight against corruption. “Faithful implementation of the Act will help to
achieve the desired goal in the fight against corruption in the country. “The
fight against corruption is meant for everyone, including persons with
disabilities; as they are part of the society and their participation in
fighting corruption will help to reduce it,” he said.
Similarly, the Attorney-General of Enugu
State, Justice Priscilla Emehelum, represented by Mr Amaechi Ngene of Ministry
of Justice, said that persons with disabilities were equally affected by
corruption in the country and they might even be more affected. Emehelum called
on the government to inaugurate National Commission for Persons with
Disabilities without delay, to oversee the implementation of the Law at the
states levels. She said that it was corruption that turned the country into the
poverty capital of the world, in spite of her human and natural endowment.
Also, Mr Gab Nnamani, the Chairman of the Joint National Association of Persons
Living with Disabilities, Enugu Chapter, said that the domestication of the Act
in the country would go a long way to reduce poverty among persons with
disabilities. Nnamani added that the inclusion of the Person with Disabilities
in every sector would give them the opportunity to join in resisting and
fighting corruption. He said that the association would embark on sensitisation
programmes to enable its members and the general public to be aware of the Act
as well as the right of the Persons Living with Disabilities. A Resource
Person, Mr Okey Kalu of Abia State Education Resources Centre, said it was the
right of the Persons Living with Disabilities to have access to social services
in the country. Kalu said that the Act provided that every person with a
disability should have the right to education without discrimination, as well
as free healthcare. On his part, Mr Kola Ogunbiyi, Programme Manager, Centre
for Citizens with Disabilities, said that the awareness week was on how to
address corruption in the country. According to Ogunbiyi, corruption could be
minimised with the inclusion of persons with disabilities in all aspects of
national life. He said that awareness was also to encourage those with
disabilities not to join in corrupt practices. He called on the Enugu State
Government to pass the Persons with Disabilities’ Law, to make the physically
challenged partake in activities of the government.
Source: Vanguard News Nigeria.