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JDPCI, CBM Inaugurate Project To Enhance Inclusive Society In North Central Nigeria

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3 weeks ago

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By Philomina Attah/ EricJames Ochigbo

The Justice Department and Peace Caritas Initiative (JDPCI) an agency of the Catholic Archdiocese of Abuja, has called on stakeholders to renew their commitment to inclusion, dignity, equality and justice in the country.

The Executive Director of JDPCI, Rev. Fr. Sebastian Sanni, made the call at the inauguration of the ‘Bold Action for Advancing Disability Rights and Inclusive Development Project’ for selected states in the North Central.

According to him, the three-year project which is in partnership with Christian Blind Mission (CBM) International, focus on how to address disability inclusion from a broader and more sustainable perspective in Benue, Plateau and the FCT.

According to the cleric, the focus is on promoting the rights, participation, dignity and inclusion of persons with disabilities.

He explained that the project would contribute to strengthening disability-inclusive systems, improving access to opportunities and essential services, while supporting participation of persons with disabilities in community development and decision-making processes.

“We, therefore, see this project as a platform for partnership, collective action and sustainable change. At JDPCI, we remain firmly committed to the principles of human dignity, social justice, participation, equity and the common good.

“We believe that a society cannot truly claim to be inclusive while persons with disabilities continue to face barriers to education, healthcare, livelihoods, employment, information, political participation, public infrastructure and other essential services.

“I wish to call on all our stakeholders to see the this project as our collective responsibility.

”We encourage government institutions to continue commitment to implementing disability-inclusive policies and strengthening systems that protect the rights of persons with disabilities.

“To civil society organiaations and development partners, we invite you to strengthen collaboration, knowledge sharing and joint advocacy.

”This is not merely launching a project. We are launching a renewed commitment to inclusion, dignity, equality and justice,” he said.

Also speaking, the Country Director for CBM, Mr Samuel Omoi, said that persons with disabilities are at the core of CBM programmes.

Represented by the Finance Expert at CBM, Mr Emmanuel Abba, Omoi said that the project is particularly focused on persons with disabilities in all three location.

“There are other disability programme CBM are funding like the Disability Rights Advocacy Project for Inclusive Development (D-RAPID) in Delta.

“It has a component for national level disability inclusive coordination, and also has disability inclusive programming implementation in Delta well as in Benue.

“It is our expectation that during the roundtable discussion session, we will discuss what are challenges in terms of disability, inclusion, in the FCT.

”Where we are in terms of legislation, in terms of implementation as well as enforcement, and also come up with recommendations that will help us to support support the disability community better,” he said.

Mr Bitrus Ameloko, the Deputy Commandant of Corps, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) FCT Command said that corps is in conjunction with the objectives of the project.

Represented by Assistant Commandant of Corps, Mrs Obi Ogechi, Ameloko said that the NSCDC is committed to the enforcement of disability laws.

Ameloko said that the NSCDC had inaugurated persons with disabilities desks across the 36 states of the federation and the FCT to swiftly attend to matters affecting PWDs.

He said that no fewer than 100 officers had been trained in sign languages and that a lot of intelligence had been gathered through the unit.

“We are here to support person with disability and to enforce the Discrimination Against Persons With Disability Prohibition Act 2018.

“So we are ready to partner with every organisation that is in intandem with this and the JDPCI objectives, as you rule out, we are here to also support that,” he said. (NAN)

Edited by Isaac Aregbesola

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ADC accuses APC of worsening teachers’ conditions

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6 minutes ago

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October 5, 2026

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The African Democratic Congress Presidential Campaign Council (ADC-PCC) has said poor welfare, inadequate salaries and rising living costs are making it difficult for Nigerian teachers to perform their duties effectively.

The council said teachers, who play a major role in educating children and shaping the country’s future, are facing worsening working and living conditions.

The ADC-PCC Director of Media and Publicity, Kola Ologbondiyan, stated this in a message marking the 2026 World Teachers’ Day.

Ologbondiyan described teachers as the backbone of national development, saying many had continued to work despite what he described as years of neglect and hardship.

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“Nigerian teachers are true heroes. They have continued to mould lives, build character and sustain our educational system even in the face of neglect and hardship,” he said.

“We are seeing teachers struggle with rising living costs, irregular and inadequate salaries, poor welfare, limited opportunities for training and deteriorating school infrastructure,” he said.

Ologbondiyan also linked the difficulties to the removal of the petroleum subsidy, saying teachers had not received adequate support to cope with the resulting increase in the cost of living.

He questioned how teachers could perform effectively when they struggled to meet basic needs such as transportation, healthcare and accommodation.

“How can a teacher teach effectively on an empty stomach?” he asked.

He added that high transport costs, inadequate salaries, limited access to medical insurance and the high cost of decent accommodation were placing additional pressure on teachers.

The ADC Presidential Campaign Council also alleged that the teaching profession had been devalued under the All Progressives Congress-led administration.

It cited what it described as poor remuneration for primary and secondary school teachers and repeated industrial actions by tertiary education workers over welfare and working conditions.

Ologbondiyan said teachers had continued to perform their duties and deserved improved working conditions and professional support.

He said an ADC administration led by its presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, would make education and teachers’ welfare a priority if elected in 2027.

According to him, the proposed measures would include better wages and allowances, health insurance, affordable housing, professional development and improved teaching and learning facilities.

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2027: Abdulsalami panel warns Tinubu, Atiku, Obi, others against inflammatory campaigns

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3 hours ago

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October 5, 2026

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The National Peace Committee, spearheaded by former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar (rtd.), has warned President Bola Tinubu, former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi and other political actors against inflammatory and inciting campaigns ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The committee issued the warning in a statement jointly signed by Abubakar and Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah on Monday.

It also raised the alarm over 60 election-related incidents recorded across the country within one month, including political violence, intimidation, threats, attacks on political activities and misinformation.

The statement partly read:

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“To political parties, candidates, and supporters: Immediately stop false, inflammatory or inciting communication. Uphold the commitments of the Accord, verify information before publication, and actively prevent supporters from engaging in unlawful conduct, intimidation, or disruption.

“As the 2027 electoral cycle progresses, the message of the NPC remains clear and unwavering. Every candidate must be able to campaign peacefully; every political party must be able to organise lawfully; and every citizen must be able to make a political choice without intimidation or coercion.

“To INEC, strengthen monitoring of political campaigns and ensure compliance with the Electoral Act 2026 and applicable regulations governing political parties and campaign conduct.

“Where breaches are identified, the commission should take appropriate regulatory action within its mandate and promptly refer suspected criminal violations to the relevant law-enforcement agencies.”

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