Rivers
JONAPWD Elections: Commissioner Inaugurates 5-Man Committee
The Rivers State Commissioner for Social Welfare and Rehabilitation, Mr. Ilamu Arugu, has inaugurated a 5-man electoral committee to oversee the forth-coming elections of the Joint Association of Persons Living with Disabilities in the State (JONAPWD).
Members of the committee were carefully selected from five clusters, representing various categories of persons with disabilities, including visually and hearing impaired, spinal cord injury, physically challenged, and persons with albinism, to ensure that the electoral process is inclusive.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony held in his office in Port-Harcourt, Mr. Arugu emphasized the importance of transparency, accountability, and fairness in the electoral process and charged the committee members to “conduct the election with integrity, impartiality, and the fear of God”.
The Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Commissioner also tasked the committee with developing a comprehensive plan for the election within two weeks and to report any challenges they encounter within the same timeframe to ensure prompt solutions to facilitate a seamless election.
In his acceptance speech, the newly appointed Chairman of the Electoral Committee, Mr. Nwankwo Ndubuisi, expressed his gratitude to the Commissioner on behalf of his colleagues for entrusting them with the mandate and pledged to work tirelessly to ensure a free, fair, and credible electoral process.
“I’d like to thank the Commissioner for this opportunity, and I assure him that we’ll work diligently to ensure a successful election”, the Chairman said.
Mr. Ndubuisi also thanked his colleagues for their support and cooperation, saying, “We’re dedicated to making this election a reality, and we’ll work together to achieve our goal”.
This inauguration marks a crucial milestone in addressing the leadership vacuum created by the expiration of Mr. Kie Obomanu’s tenure as Chairman of JONAPWD.
A statement by the Head of Press, Ministry of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation, Martha Igbiks, said, “the Ministry’s initiative is a welcome development which demonstrates its commitment to promoting inclusivity, transparency, and accountability in governance, ensuring that persons with disabilities have a voice and are actively involved in the decision-making process”.