By SANI IDRIS

A coalition of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), has expressed concern with the vacancy of Minister at the Humanitarian Affairs Ministry.

This is just as the coalition mostly consisting of groups of People Living With Disability (PWDs) are also making a case for the appointment of one of them, Halimat Tejuosho, to fill the vacancy.

The coalition, which comprised no fewer than 100 CSOs, spoke as part of activities marking the one year anniversary of President Bola Tinubu.

They addressed newsmen on Saturday in Kaduna as part of the commemoration of the 2024 Democracy Day.

Some of them included PWDs across the 36 states and FCT, APC PWDs’ leaders in the 36 states, APC stalwarts, the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) and youth parliaments, among others.

The Chairman of the coalition, Aliyu Sani, said that their call was to align with other groups and individuals to drum support for Tejuosho.

According to him, she has over the years distinguished herself as a true humanitarian to be appointed as Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation of Nigeria.

Sani said, ”Tejuosho is a selfless patriot who has been using her personal resources to bring succour to senior citizens, PWDs and the less-privileged through her NGO, the Queen Adenike Tejuosho Foundation (QATFoundation).”

He said the foundation gave her a position of responsibility in line with her passion and interest to do more for the downtrodden in the society.

“As a mark of true philanthropy, the quintessential lady recently celebrated children’s day with vulnerable and indigent children where over 500 school books, bags, shoes, water bottles, foodstuffs and writing materials were shared.

“Her Ramadan largesse to over 1,000 PWDs as well as Sallah packages to hundreds of households who could not afford to celebrate the festivities cannot be forgotten,” he said.

Sani, therefore, said judging by all the individual sacrifices and the sheer passion to touch lives, it triggered the coalition to appeal to Tinubu to consider filling the vacancy by appointing Tejuosho.

This, he said, would enable Nigerians to enjoy the dividends of democracy in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda especially in the area of poverty alleviation.

“It goes without saying that since the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation has been without a Minister, the government has not been providing succour to the less-privileged as it is supposed to do.

“From Tejuosho’s antecedents and if given the opportunity, she will continue to extend her generosity and passion to bring a turnaround in the fortunes of the less privileged and downtrodden in Nigeria,” he added.

He reiterated the support of the PWDs community in Nigeria to Tinubu, while appealing to him to grant their only wish by appointing Tejuosho who is one of them.

Also, the Chairman, Arewa Youths Disability Forum, Muhammad Zaria, said the length of time the ministry was left vacant, poses danger to the smooth running of government affairs.

“Mr President, we are united with one voice without any external influence in making this appeal and prayer.

‘It will be a privilege to appoint this selfless woman as a Minister because we are very sure she will deliver.

“This is our collective resolve born out of the conviction that with the support she has been giving people in the community for over 10 years, she is the right person for the job.

”Politics, region and other considerations should be put aside to allow competence and merit to prevail,” Zaria said.

He congratulated Tinubu for a meritorious one year in office, while commending him on his progressive policies, support to PWDs and the senior citizens.

Zaria also thanked the First Lady, Sen. Remi Tinubu, for her firm support to Tinubu, while commending her for the agricultural support she has recently extended to women, youths and PWDs across the country. NAN)

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