BEVERLY HILLS, April 29, (THEWILL) – The Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities in Bayelsa State has alleged discriminatory practices against its member in the Niger Delta University, Amassoma.
Chairman of the State Chapter of the Association, Mr. Ikiowei Eric, alleged that a member of staff with disability was recently denied the opportunity of being appointed the Bursar of the Institution because of being physically challenged.
The management of the university, when contacted, however, denied discriminating against the physically challenged staff, maintaining that the selection process for the post was fair.
The leadership of the association alleged that when the interview for the vacant position of Bursar was conducted at the Niger Delta University, Amassoma, the authorities included some discriminatory criteria in the job description.
Chairman of the State Chapter of the Association, Mr. Ikilowei Eric, who provided a document from the institution advertising the post alleged that Article 6 of the qualification requirements for the job demanded that the candidate should be of excellent physical condition.
According to Ikilowei, that was a discriminatory provision targeted at its member, Mr. Numuworimi Yeitaribo, a Deputy Bursar and most senior officer in the Bursary Department who was denied the position in favour of another officer from the Internal Audit Department, Mr. Yalah Buluembele, with no external assessor being part of the interview panel.
He described the process as gross disrespect for the Disability Law signed by President Muhammadu Buhari.
The Chairman stated that in 2016 when the interview for the immediate past Bursar was held at the Institution, the discriminatory provision was not present just as there was an independent assessor in the panel, demanding a fresh process to appoint the Bursar.
Ikilowei appealed to Governor Douye Diri, who is the Visitor to the institution, and the Human Rights community to wade into the matter to ensure that staffers with disability were not discriminated against.
Authorities of the university told journalists that the allegations of discrimination in the selection process were untrue.
