By Emmanuel Awari-Jalingo
The Commissioner for Social Justice and Re – Integration, Dr. Filister Musa, has applauded the state Governor Dr. Agbu Kefas for signing into law on the Taraba State persons with disabilities commission.
She stated this while speaking with Journalists in Jalingo.
She said that the bill will provide full integration of people living with disabilities into the society.
” I really want to thank the state Governor Dr Agbu Kefas for this giant stride, this is a dream come true for people with disabilities in the state.
“The signing of the bill into law on 23rd July, 2025, would never be forgotten in the minds of the people living with disabilities in Taraba State.
“This will open doors for people living with disabilities in Taraba State and to the World at large.
According to her, the bill also establish the Taraba State Commission for Persons with Disabilities 2024, will be vested with the responsibilities of ensuring that the disabilities Education, Social, Economic and Civil rights and matters concerning the people living with disabilities. It will promote the rights and welfare of people living with disabilities and it’s an opportunity for them to be known in the society.
“The Commission wil forster inclusiveness in the state and will also bring them closer to the society, facilitate the discrimination against the people living with disabilities prohibition act to protect their interest and help them.
The Commissioner further said that the Commission will also enable access to gain services with Non Governmental Organizations NGO’S, Foundations and Development Partners both National and International.
“Establishment of the Commission is a welcome development to Taraba State.
“This has gladen our hearts to the entire people with disabilities in the country.
On management of people living with disabilities, the Commissioner said,
“Yes, managing people with disabilities is difficult because, they are people that feel marginalized and discriminate against. So must time, they have such mindset any time they come into the society, people will like to push them aside or look down on them, so they can be aggressive and hard to approach.
“So I thank God, for giving me the wisdom to manage them. First, I always ask them questions when they approach me with any issue (How do you look at this and how do you think we can solve the issue)?.
“Most of the times, they have the solutions to the issues, they only need people to guide them to the right channel for the issues to be solve.
She pointed out that she was able to solve the lack of election of officials of the Association which have been lingering for years.
“They came to me one time with issue of election that have been long awaiting for decades, I gave them approval and sat them down and ask, “How do we go about it”?. They gave suggestions and at the end of it all, we succeed, and now the entire people with disabilities in the state are is calm.
The Commissioner said that treating people with disabilities with dignity without discrimination against them, is another point used to calm situations among the people living with disabilities.
“You have to treat them with dignity without discriminating against them. With dignity, they feel free and welcome, so be fair with them in things you do.
“You should understand that different situations makes them to react, so always understand with them in the situation they are in.
According to her, giving a listening ears to the disabilities will control any form of violence or aggressiveness.
“You have to listen to them anytime they come with their problems, if you don’t listen to them, they are ready to be violent. So always listen to them and you will amicably resolve things, and that is the method we have been using in the Ministry to resolve issues and live peacefully with them.
Dr. Filister Musa use the medium to elaborate on the challenges facing people living with disabilities saying,
” Yes, PLWD are facing challenges, but let me pointed out some of the major ones. The Blind Workshop: If put renovated, equiped and furnished, they can train and re-create and re- train themselves. They don’t need to be taking out of the state to any Institutions any where to aquire skills or training. The workshop if put in place, it can also serve the same purpose that other training Institutions in Lagos and other places. With this, other North Eastern states will send their people living with disabilities to Taraba State to come and aquire skills and training that will empower them and become selfreliance.
“Another challenge is their Children. Most at times, they don’t allow their children to go to school, because of the fear that their children may or either be stolen or taken away from them in the aspect of Human trafficking and others. I asked them “What is the solution to this problem”?, they said, only if the government can renovate, equiped and furnished the two schools, one in Mutum Biyu and the other one in Garbabi, it will go a long way in solving the problem.
This server to them as office, which they normally seat and discuss issues on way forward and make a living.
“Some of the children also have their challenges just as their parents. If the government can give them a Bus that can take and bring them back from Garbabi and Mutum Biyu when school resumes during holidays and bring them back safe, then they will allow their children to go to school, but if the children will follow public transport or follow an individual, they will not allow such. Those children that are half physical challenge, disabilities on one way or the other, also have disability problem.
“The government should be able to provide them with Buses that can take them to and from school after break. If the government will do that, they will allow their children go to school.
“Lack of empowerment is another challenge facing people living with disabilities. If they can be empowered, they will stop begging on the streets and enable to live a healthy and wealthy life just like every citizen in the society – she said.