The Coordinator of the National Union of Organizations for the Disabled (NUOD) in Margibi County, Augustine R. Gbenie is calling for inclusive participation in the County and social development Funds of Margibi.
Mr. Gbenie speaking to newsmen on Tuesday August 7, 2018 noted that they are not begging to be included because it is their right as citizens of Margibi to benefit from whatever resources that belong to the County.
He said they have been advocating for the past years as civil society organization with the County Authority to find some percentage of the County and Social Development funds to improve the lives of people with disability and deaf ears have been paid to their call something he noted has not been easy for them.
According to Gbenie, he has engaged the current Authority of Margibi County through a written document and have met with the Lawmakers in the County asking for inclusive participation in the County Council sitting and to get portion of the County and social development funds.
He said the document will also be handed over to the Chairman of the Margibi Legislative Caucus Ben A. Fofana in order to get the support of the County as people living with disability. Mr. Gbenie averred that they are getting green light from Lawmakers of the County.
He stated that his work is to advocate on behalf of the people with disability as such; his leadership is doing all it can to ensure that the Union gets portion of the Funds.
In a related development, the Senator of Margibi County, Oscar A. Cooper has identified with members of the National Union of Organizations for the Disabled (NUOD) Margibi branch.
On Tuesday, the Senator’s office presented the amount of twenty thousand Liberian dollars to the group as a compensating for the month of July 2018.
Mr. Gabriel Nyumah, administrator in the office of the Senator presenting the cash to the group said the Senator has deemed it necessary to compensate the group with the amount on a monthly basis to enable them run their office in the County. He disclosed that the office of the Senator in July 2018 gave the group twenty thousand Liberian dollars for the month of June.
Meanwhile, NUOD Margibi Coordinator receiving the money on behalf of the Union thanked the Senator for the support and said they are grateful and praying for the Senator to be able to work on all of the commitment that have been made and written down to improve the livelihood of the people with disability.
“We highly appreciate the commitment of the Honorable and it is ongoing, I think this is the first time in the entire County” Mr. Augustine R. Gbenie noted. He said in the life of the people with disability, the Senator is the first person to assist them believing that it is helpful to them.
Mr. Gbenie indicated that 50% of the amount will be sent out to their people in the five electrical districts where they work while the remaining 50% will be used to purchase stationeries, transportation and stipend.
He explained that they are paying the amount of fifty United States dollars monthly as a rent for the building they are using as office thanking God that Senator Cooper has taken the initiative of paying the rent.
