DRP calls out Tastee Fried Chicken over discrimination against PWD in Lagos outlet
…Owner doesn’t support such, she has sacked the two staff responsible – Manager
By Chima Azubuike
The Executive Director, Disability Rights Protection Initiative, Chikwado Raphael Chukwu, has decried the maltreatment meted out to a Person With Disability Deborah Falade, by staff of Tastee Fried Chicken Ikoyi, Lagos.
Chukwu in a statement he personally signed which was sent to PERISCOPE NIGERIA, titled “DRP organisation frowns at discrimination against Persons With Disabilities, and we must use every lawful means to protect our members:The disheartening story of Deborah Falade, he called on the Management of the food outfit to publicly apologise for ridiculing Falade.
According to Chukwu, Falade had gone to Tastee Fried Chicken outlet at Ikoyi, Lagos to order food food after pleading that she required a someone to help her drop her tray carrying her order, the staff who didn’t just decline laughed at Falade to scorn that attracted the involvement of others.
The Executive Director disclosed that Falade, its member had cried out to DRP over the discriminatory treatments the staff of Tastee Fried Chicken had made her to suffer at the point of patronising them, adding that PWDs deserved requisite empathy and not discrimination.
The statement partly read, “My unsavoury experience at the Tastee Fried Chicken outlet at Ikoyi, Lagos.On Thursday, 6th July, 2023, at exactly 11:50 am., I walked into Tastee Fried Chicken at 106, Awolowo Road to eat.
“I placed an order for my meal at the counter, including – fried rice with croaker fish, pasta salad and a can of Guinness malt. The lady at the counter asked for means of payment, and I gave her my card. Shortly after that, I politely requested the staff of the restaurant to assist me to carry my tray of food to the nearby table. This was because I’m physically disabled, (a Polio survivor) who would spill the food if I were to carry the tray of food myself. To my surprise, the lady laughed at me in a very embarrassing and humiliating manner.
“When her colleague who was also there asked her what had happened, she told her that I was requesting for assistance to carry my tray of food to the table, both of them looked at each other and laughed out loud at me saying; “we are not here to carry food for people o”. I have never been publicly humiliated and embarrassed on the account of my disability in my entire life.
“I told them that if no one would help me to carry the tray of food to the nearby table, they should return my ATM card, which they did.”
The Manager having seen the embarrassing situation, Chukwu noted followed Falade outside, where he urged her to come into the outlet but Falade was said to have declined the offer following her current emotional state.
“As I left, the manager followed me out and asked me what happened. I narrated my ordeal to him. He pleaded with me to come back in to have my food, but I declined because I could not bear the public shame and humiliation I was subjected to by his staff. The manager then gave me his mobile contact to call him if I ever have any issues in future. Quite frankly, I am scared of being subjected to such degrading and unedifying treatment again, and will need a lot of encouragement to visit that particular restaurant or any other outlet to purchase meals again,” he added.
While expressing dismay at Falade’s ordeal Disability Rights Protection Initiative, urged the advised other PWDs to speak out adding that “the organisation shall write and demand a letter of apology from the management of Tastee Fried Chicken over their discriminatory treatments against our member, Miss Deborah Falade. And should they fail to adequately respond to our demand, we shall be left with no other option than to explore other legal means to force them into addressing our concerns.
“To other service providers at all level, I am using this opportunity to appeal to you to stop maltreating and discriminating against persons with disabilities. We are human beings, hence you must accord us with equal respects, rights and opportunity.
“To this end, let me equally remind the general public that by virtue of the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act, 2018, “Discrimination” is now one of the serious crimes. It very unfortunate that many of you do not know about this law. But don’t worry, DRP is going to work with various security agencies in Nigeria to prosecute anyone or persons who in whatsoever form discriminates against the disabled citizens. So, be warned! We don’t joke about our mission to advance equal opportunities, promote inclusion and defend the human rights of persons with disabilities against discriminatory treatments in Nigeria.”
When our correspondent reached out to the outlet in a telephone conversation, a man who was identified as the Manager told PERISCOPE NIGERIA that the staff involved have been sacked.
“When I heard about it i tried to intervene, but the lady didn’t accept to come in or have order packed. The owner of the woman doesn’t tolerate such act against maltreatment she has sacked the two staff concerned,” the manager told our correspondent.
