The Taraba State Joint National Association of Persons Living With Disabilities (JONAPWD) have raised the alarm over the alleged neglect of their members by the state government.

The members who said they are being marginalized could not fathom why the leadership of the state have continued to relegate them to the background despite their immense contributions to the growth of the state.

Speaking through their Secretary General, Aliyu Mohammed shortly after undergoing training on disaster management which was facilitated by the Red Cross of Nigeria, they expressed dismay that they are not being considered in terms of employment.

Sad that it is, “only eight out of the twenty-two thousand members of the organization are gainfully employed in the state civil service, despite their qualifications. The need for the government to fashion out measures to co-opt them into its activities, they said, can no longer be overemphasized.

Lamenting, they said, “We are left behind by the government for unknown reasons. 85% of our members are learned but felt dejected that they are not being carried along in the schemes of activities”

Advocating for “sharing formula” they also could not fathom why none of the members of the association was included in the COVID-19 task force, drumming that, “we believed there is COVID-19 pandemic, but we are sad because none of our members was given a place to represent us in the task force Committee.”

If given the much desired attentions, they believed the idea of perambulating and begging for foods would have long become a thing of the past in the state, stressing that “we are not happy going around churches, mosques, motor parks and other public places begging for arms.”

The group who also felt dejected that they are not always considered whenever food items, clothing and other relief materials are made available for the state for onward distributions for the Have-not or to victims of disasters.