Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) in Ikole-Ekiti, Ikole Local Government Area of Ekiti, have appealed to Governor Biodun Oyebanji to offer them jobs and business opportunities to cushion the current economic hardship.

A cross-section of the PWDs, who spoke with journalists on Saturday, said they currently experience hardship owing to a lack of visible means of livelihood.

One of the IDPs, Bolaji Farouk, said the cost of living had become unbearable for him, as he did not have enough money to start his desired shoemaking business, which could have been fetching him money.

He said some of his friends and residents who usually gave him money to feed were no longer doing so because of their financial constraints.

Mr Farouk called on the governor to assist the physically challenged people with job and business opportunities to ease their quest for survival.

“I want to appeal to our governor, Mr Biodun Oyebanji, to empower us with businesses and jobs that will take away our sufferings,” he said.

Jubril Ibrahim, a visuall-impaired, said begging for alms had become a way of life for him, though he was not satisfied with it.

“I am not satisfied with the kind of life I’m living,” he said.

Mr Ibrahim, therefore, appealed to both the state and local governments to prioritise the welfare and well-being of PWDs through their programmes and policies.

He particularly called for special consideration for PWDs in the distribution of palliatives to cushion the hardship occasioned by fuel subsidy removal.

Also, Rukayat Ismali, a deaf and dumb who spoke through an interpreter, said the cost of food items, drugs and other daily needs had become unbearable for her and her family.

Ms Ismail, who described the removal of fuel subsidy by the federal government as a bold step, implored governments at all levels to prioritise job creation and skill acquisition for women and youths.

Similarly, Olusola Ogungbenro, also with a disability, appealed for more budgetary allocation to cater for women and youths in the state, especially the PWDs.

He said the hardship occasioned by fuel subsidy removal had further worsened their living conditions, hence the need for urgent government intervention. 

(NAN)