Over 30 ‘disabled persons’ protest at FedPoly Nekede

From Chris Njoku, Owerri

 

Over 30 physically challenged persons yesterday barricaded the two gates of Federal Polytechnic at Nekede, Owerri, the Imo State capital, calling for five per cent employment slot.

The protesters, under the aegis of the Association of Applicants/Workers with Disability in Nigeria, prevented vehicular movements in and out of the institution.

Some of the polytechnic’s workers and visitors could not drive their cars out of the school premises while those entering could not enter the compound.

The physically challenged persons defied the day’s downpour during the protest; some of them slept on the floor half-naked.

Speaking with The Nation, one of their leaders, Chinedu Ejiogu (aka Shekar), said they were asking for their rights, as enshrined in the Constitution, that five per cent of jobs should be allotted to physically challenged persons.

“We learnt that the management employed about 300 new personnel into the polytechnic without consideration for disabled people. So, what happened to our five per cent?” he queried.

The Nation found the school’s spokesman Everest Nwosu speaking with the protesters in company of some management workers.

He refused to comment on the incident, saying: “I will not speak now.”

But a management worker, who pleaded anonymity, said the school authorities were not aware of the five per cent slot for the disabled people.

He promised to include their request when the school gets a directive from the Federal Government to employ.

It was gathered that the recent job placement was causing ripples in the school.

The Rector, Michael Arimanwa, and other management workers had reportedly been interrogated by security agencies.

This followed a petition by the Director of Intervention and Linkages, Norbert Nworie, who the Rector allegedly suspended over the disputes that arose from the employment of the new personnel, allegedly without advertisement and interview.