Fashola To Employ Three visually Impaired lawyers

Oct 16, 2011 – Lagos State Governor, Mr. Raji Fashola (SAN), has assured three visually challenged lawyers present at the celebration of his 1,600 days in office of possible employment in the state civil service.  

The trio of Mr. Babatunde Safiu, Salamu Abolarinwa and Rotimi Anamo had during the question and answer session requested Fashola to consider them for employment. 

They said they had faced series of rejection from the private sector because they refused to allow their disability feel inferior.  

Anamo, who spoke on behalf of the visually challenged lawyers, commended Fashola for signing the People with Disability Bill into law. 

He argued that physically challenged persons also have a role to play in nation building. 

Fashola described their challenges as one the nation has failed to address in the last 50 years. 

He called on leaders to rise and provide enabling environment for skilled persons to utilise them to the benefit of the nation. 

According to him, “There are some who have skills but only require an opportunity to compete but lack the opportunity to do so. 

‘’Some have skills but unfortunately this country cannot provide the platform for them to compete. 

‘’They are physically challenged but their acumen is good, if not better than some of us that are able”.

He said aside from the law to protect physically challenged persons, roads are now being constructed to provide walk ways and rams including steps in the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) vehicles to enable them access the facilities.

Fashola disclosed that he had spoken with the Head of Service (HOS) to include a quota for employment of physically challenged persons in the state civil service.

He said a ballot system will be employed to that effect. 

He directed the Attorney General, Mr. Ade Ipaye, to collect the contact details of the visually impaired lawyers to consider how the state can put their skills to use. 

In the account of his stewardship, Fashola said the government has commenced implementation of its electioneering promises to improve the quality of inner city roads. 

Eight of such roads in Aguda, 16 aging roads in Mushin and three others in Ogudu have been awarded for rehabilitation, Fashola said.  

He added, “We have completed the design of the Mile 12-Ikorodu Road which is expected to cost us about 30billion. We are currently trying to conclude the final arrangement so that we can award the contract. 

‘’We have completed Iju road and we are making progress on Ibeshe road in Ikorodu while the link road in Amuwo Odofin between Apapa Oshodi Expressway is now open to traffic”. 

He said work is also going on numerous designs of roads across Lagos from Agege to Ifako Ijaiye and Somolu, including Igi Olugbin and Pedro Road. 

He added that the construction of Abiola/Onijemo Road and bridge in Ifako Ijaiye will commence soon. 

Such development strides, he said, mark the difference between the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) government and the defaulting party. (The Nation)