By Monsuru Olowoopejo

WORRIED by inhuman treatment received from residents, physically challenged persons in Lagos State have demanded that the state government accord them ‘Special Status’, to enable them compete favorably with their peers.

They made their demands at a stakeholder’s forum organized by Office of Civic Engagement in Alausa, Ikeja.

According to the, the the status would help them surmount the challenges they encounter daily.

The physically challenged persons, who are largely civil servants lamented that necessary support hardly come their way particularly when they intend to make use of public facilities like banks and any of the transport system in the state.

Speaking on behalf of the workers, Titilayomi Asumboola, said they were confronted with various challenges daily on the way to work and at public utilities in the state.

She therefore asked the state government to accord special priority to civil servants living with disabilities in Lagos, saying that they would need the intervention of government in transportation, sidewalks with ramp, installation of elevators in buildings across the state.

She, however, demanded that the State government strictly enforce the Special Peoples Law, to aid them in contributing their quota to Lagos development.

Responding, Special Adviser to the State governor on Civic Engagement, Kehinde Joseph, who frowned at attitude of the residents towards physically challenged persons, noted that members of the public must always lend a helping hand to them whenever necessary and not look down upon them.

Joseph argued that over time, it had been proven there was ability in disability, adding “what people who are challenged needed was a society where they can prove themselves.”

The governor’s aide however, assured them that the Governor Akinwunmi Ambode led government remained committed to the well being of people living with disabilities.

He noted that in recognition of challenges often encountered by persons living with disabilities, “the state government signed the People’s Disability Act of 2010 into law, which has put our challenged citizens in the forefront of care.”