The House of Representatives has vowed to implement the 5% employment quota for persons with disabilities, as stipulated in the Discrimination Against Persons with Disability (Prohibition) Act.
The House Committee Chairman on Disability, Hon Bashir Daudu Ayinla, while giving the assurance on Tuesday at a One-day Public Hearing on Access to Employment and Entrepreneurship Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities in Nigeria, stressed the importance of promoting inclusion and providing opportunities for persons with disabilities.
The public hearing was organized by the Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities(JONAPWD) with the support of the MacArthur Foundation.
Ayinla, also disclosed the committee is working to ensure that persons with disabilities have access to equal opportunities and services.
He encouraged organisations to comply with the 5% employment quota provision, noting that failure to do so would be in violation of the law.
“The committee’s efforts to promote inclusion and protect the rights of persons with disabilities are a welcome development.
“It is out of passion that I choose to head the Committee On Disability, having worked with persons with disabilities for more than four years in the United States as a Medical Doctor.
“In 2018, this very house passed the Discrimination Against Persons with Disability (Prohibition) Act.
“This landmark legislation provides a framework for promoting inclusion and protecting the rights of persons with disabilities.
“I encourage all of you to familiarise yourselves with this Act, as it provides a critical pathway for addressing the challenges faced by persons with disabilities.
“While the Act is not perfect, it provides a solid foundation for promoting inclusion. However, implementation and enforcement are critical to its success.
“As a house, we have passed several motions to enforce the provisions of the Act, including motions on public buildings, accessibility, and employment.
“Today, we focus on two critical areas: employment and entrepreneurship. The Act requires that at least 5% of all recruits must be persons with disabilities.
“Furthermore, all government programs and projects aimed at empowering entrepreneurs must be inclusive of persons with disabilities. Organizations that fail to comply with these provisions are in violation of the law.
“I urge all of you to take action. Let us work together to promote inclusion and protect the rights of persons with disabilities.
“Let us ensure that our laws are enforced and that our programs and projects are inclusive. Together, we can build a more just and equitable society for all,” he said.
Also speaking, the Executive Secretary of the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities(NCPWD), Chief Ayuba Gufwan, noted that while the 5% quota is a step in the right direction, argued that it is inadequate, considering the large number of qualified persons with disabilities seeking employment.
He, therefore, called for a review of the quota to ensure that more persons with disabilities have access to job opportunities.
“Efforts are already underway to increase employment opportunities for persons with disabilities. The National Directorate for Employment has granted a slot of 3000 people with disabilities in the ongoing employment improvement program.
“Visits have been made to various agencies, including the Federal Character Commission and the Civil Service Commission, to advocate for the inclusion of persons with disabilities in the employment process.
“The National Commission for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD) has also been working to promote the rights of persons with disabilities.
“The commission has developed a 5-year strategic plan to ensure the full inclusion of persons with disabilities in all aspects of society.
“To achieve this goal, it is essential that institutions of higher learning, such as universities and colleges of education, consider the employment needs of persons with disabilities.
“If each of these institutions allocates 5% of their employment quota to persons with disabilities, it would significantly reduce the unemployment rate within the disability community,” he said.
He said the implementation of the 5% employment quota is a crucial step towards promoting inclusion and protecting the rights of persons with disabilities.
“However, it requires the collective efforts of all stakeholders, including government agencies, private sector organizations, and disability advocacy groups,” he added.
Meanwhile, the National President of the Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities(JONAPWD), Abdullah Aliyu Usman, noted that the issue of disability inclusion in Nigeria has been a longstanding concern, with many persons with disabilities facing significant barriers to employment and entrepreneurship opportunities.
He, however, said, that with the recent public hearing organized by the House Committee on Disability Matters, there is renewed hope for change.
According to him, the only difference between persons with disabilities and others is the ability to access opportunities.
“The issue is poverty and literacy. If you are a person with a disability and you are not associated with poverty, people will not even see your disability. However, when disability is associated with poverty, it can lead to stigma and exclusion,” he stated.
He expressed appreciation for the efforts of the House Committee on Disability Matters, particularly the chairman, for organizing the public hearing.
He also commended the executive secretary of the National Directorate of Employment (NDE) for initiating training programs for persons with disabilities.
“We really appreciate the effort of the NDE, and we hope that this will continue to grow. The public hearing was a crucial step towards addressing the employment and entrepreneurship challenges faced by persons with disabilities.
“This is our house, and we are happy to be here to deliberate on how to get employed. The success of this initiative will depend on the collective efforts of all stakeholders, including government agencies, private sector organizations, and disability advocacy groups,” he said.
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