3.9
Objective 9: Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Vulnerable Groups,
including the Disabled, The poor, IDPs and Refugees.
3.9.1 The Present Administration believes that all citizens are important, blessed
with peculiar endowments, and therefore has roles to play in the
development of the country. In order to avoid stigmatization of groups, the
National Assembly is about to pass a bill that outlaws discrimination against
disabled persons. The physically challenged are specifically encouraged in the
versatile skills and fields of endeavour while those that desire to go to school
are encouraged through special scholarship programmes.
During the reporting period, the Federal Government initiated diverse actions
aimed at addressing the problems of displaced persons, among which are the
following:
deployment of military personnel for rescue operations in flood
devastated areas of the country in 2009, 2010 and 2011;
deployment of joint military teams to crises-ridden areas to quell the
situation and restore peace;
through the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA),
government has been providing relief packages and compensation to
displaced persons and victims of disasters;
establishment of more centers for NEMA in order to enable the Agency
coordinate the vast landscape of the nation and respond effectively to
calls for duty as and at when due;
Approved, in November 2011, the procurement of a helicopter by
NEMA, for prompt emergency rescue and ambulance services in
disaster situations.
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