Kaduna Beggars Storm Govt House, Demand Withdrawal Of Anti-Begging Law

Members of the Joint National Association of People with Disability protest in Kaduna yesterday

Beggars under the auspices of the Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD) yesterday stormed the Kaduna Government House in their hundreds to demand the withdrawal of the anti-begging law until the governor fulfils his campaign promises.

Daily Trust report continues:

Security operatives on spotting the beggars quickly mobilized and blocked them from gaining entrance into the governor’s premises. An Amoured Personnel Carrier was stationed at the entrance close to the main gate, while men of the Nigerian Police Force who arrived in eight Hilux vehicles took strategic positions around the premises carrying guns and tear gas with a view of forestalling outbreak of law and order.

Spokesperson of the group, Muntari Sale expressed dismay over the governor’s attitude towards people living with disability, adding that they would not relent in their efforts until the governor fulfilled his promises to them.

He said, “The governor promised us that he will not ban street begging until he makes adequate arrangement for our upkeep and welfare. He promised that 30 per cent of our members would be given employment anytime the state government had a programme running which has not been met. He also promised to provide for the sick, educate our children and employ those in different skills with a view to easing the suffering of the people living with disability.

“This law was passed in Kano, Edo and Lagos states as well as the FCT and they did not succeed. The government has not made adequate arrangements for us and yet it wants to ban us from our only source of livelihood. He promised to employ our children, unfortunately, he has employed people in the Kaduna State Traffic and Environmental Law Enforcement Agency (KASTELEA), but none of our children were employed. He also employed street sweepers, and none of our children were employed. They employed women to cook food for state schools under the school feeding programme, yet none of our wives or children have benefited.”

He called for the removal of the present Special Assistant to the Governor on Disability, saying he was the cause of most of their predicaments as he was fighting only for himself.

The Special Assistant to the Governor on Stakeholders, Abdullahi Bayero explained that the governor was in a meeting and appealed to the protesting beggars to be patient.