From DESMOND MGBOH, Kano
Hundreds of beggars and disabled persons, yesterday, besieged the Kano State House of Assembly to protest the proposed ban on street begging and related activities in the state by the legislature.
The beggars, which staged the demonstration, under the aegis of the Joint National Association of Disabled Persons (JONADP), were made up male and female, blind, deaf and polio victims and those with amputated arms and legs, among others. They started arriving the state House of Assembly by 9.30am.
Daily Sun observed that there was a subtle attempt by security officers, made up of the Nigeria Police
and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSDC) to forcibly bar the demonstrators from the Assembly complex.
In their petition, the disabled persons sought the introduction of a social security allowance for persons with disabilities in the state, similar to what is obtainable in several states in the North. They also asked for the immediate stoppage of further confiscation of their rehabilitation centres in Mariri .
The petition, which was signed by the secretary to the association, Alhaji Kabiru Ado, further asked the state government to establish a disabled commission in the state, saying the proposed commission would be composed of solely physically challenged persons.
The bill on the ban on street begging and related activities, they stated, should take note of the United Nations Bill of Rights, such as their right to live, equality, access to justice and freedom from torture, punishment and degrading treatment.
The petition was copied to the governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso, the Chief Judge of the state, the Commissioner of Police and the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Ado Bayero.
The protesters, who were not allowed into the Assembly Complex, were however, received at the gate by the Clerk of the Kano State House of Assembly, Alhaji Lawal Badamasi
He stated: “As you can see, I am not the speaker, neither am I a member of the House but they have assigned me to listen to your complaints and forward them to the House, as they are on a project monitoring tour. I also appeal to you to be respectful and law abiding,” he stated.
“I will present this paper to the Assembly, as I am instructed to do. And I am sure you will hear a good feedback.”
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