Abia PWDs Demand Extension of Service Years, Restoration of Disability Allowance

Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) in the Abia State Civil Service have called for an extension of their years of service, restoration of disability allowances and the provision of reasonable workplace accommodations to enable them discharge their duties effectively.
They made the demands during an interactive meeting in Umuahia, the state capital, attended by the Chairman of the Abia State Commission for the Welfare of Persons with Disabilities, Dr. David Anyaele.

Speaking at the meeting, Dr. Anyaele said the engagement was designed to gain a better understanding of the peculiar challenges confronting civil servants with disabilities, particularly their demands for extended service years, restoration of disability allowances and improved workplace accommodations.
He declared that employing persons with disabilities in the state civil service was not an act of charity but a recognition of their qualifications, abilities and capacity to contribute meaningfully to society.

Earlier, the Secretary of the Abia State Association of Civil Servants with Disabilities, Mr. Sam Ekeoma, highlighted what he described as severe institutional, environmental and administrative barriers hindering the effectiveness of workers with disabilities.
He identified inaccessible roads and office environments as major challenges, explaining that they increased transportation costs for PWDs and exposed them to workplace discrimination.

Ekeoma alleged that some managers failed to assign responsibilities to employees with disabilities because of their physical conditions, thereby limiting their opportunities to demonstrate their capabilities.
He also raised concerns over the non-implementation of statutory salaries, allowances and other benefits provided for under existing disability laws.

According to him, the situation was largely a result of systemic non-implementation rather than deliberate denial of their entitlements.
He appealed to the Commission to engage the Head of the State Civil Service and the Local Government Service Commission to ensure that the statutory benefits were fully implemented.

In his response, Dr. Anyaele said the meeting provided an opportunity to assess what had worked, identify existing gaps and understand the challenges confronting civil servants with disabilities in Abia State.
He said the issues raised would be documented for possible policy interventions.

The Commission Chairman noted that the Abia State Disability Law, the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities all provide for the protection, inclusion and active participation of persons with disabilities in social and economic activities without discrimination.
He commended Governor Alex Otti’s administration for what he described as its proactive commitment to the welfare and inclusion of persons with disabilities, noting that the initiatives were rooted in the government’s foundational policies.

“The advantage we have is that our Governor, His Excellency, Dr. Alex Otti, cares for the welfare of persons with disabilities. His intention is well documented in his 2023 campaign manifesto and the Transition Council policy recommendation,” Anyaele said.
He added that the Otti administration was committed to introducing policies and programmes that would reverse the longstanding neglect of retirees, persons with disabilities and other vulnerable groups.

According to him, the administration seeks to ensure that their basic needs are met, enabling them to live with dignity and continue contributing meaningfully to society.