NIGERIA
More than 200 people living with a disability filled the main roads of Yenagoa, the capital of the southern Nigerian State of Bayelsa, bringing traffic to a standstill.
The protesters were demanding they be included in a recent decision to recruit 1,000 graduates into the State Public Service.
Spokesperson, Eric Ikilowei led a group up to the entrance of Government House displaying placards with various inscriptions, and requested to speak with the Governor.
“We are only demanding the employment of seven of our members who are graduates and this is not even up to the 7 per cent or more that should have been our constitutional quota and right,” Mr Ikilowei said.
“We have made our request known to the Government before, but they still keep deaf ears to our plight.”
He said the protestors would not be short-changed.
“We are giving the Government a week’s ultimatum to grant us employment or we shall come back for a bigger protest to shut down this Government and the whole State until our demands are granted,” Mr Ikilowei said.
Commissioner for Empowerment and Social Welfare, Faith Opene assured the protesters their requests for employment were under consideration.
“The Chair of the Civil Service Commission, Peter Singabele told me that letters of employment are being prepared,” Ms Opene said.
Yenagoa, 29 March 2019
