Nigerian political leader asks disabled people to stop street begging

From AllAfrica.com:

Physically challenged persons in the country were on Nov. 26 admonished to desist from the habit of begging for alms by the use of persuasive words and enticements.

They are rather encouraged to use their God given potentials to develop themselves and the society.

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dimeji Bankole, gave the advice at the opening of a one-day public hearing on a Bill for Nigerians with Disabilities at the National Assembly complex.

He counselled that disability must not be an excuse for anyone to engage in begging.

Bankole, who was represented on the occasion by his deputy, Usman Nafada, said instead of begging, the disabled persons should face the realities that they could translate their challenges to productive ventures.

While assuring that the bill, short-titled, "A Bill for Nigerians With Disability,"' would be passed into law by the House of Representatives early next year, he expressed the hope that the coming of the law would make it possible for physically challenged persons in the country to among other things be gainfully employed.

Bankole assured that Senate would be lobbied to also to pass the bill at the same time.

He said there were significant potentials inherent in every disabled person that could be utilised and called on them to show to the world that they were equal to the task.