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From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja
The federal government has mandated all Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) to fully comply with the statutory 5% employment quota for Persons With Disabilities (PWDs) and to ensure that public buildings, transportation systems, and service channels are made accessible to this group.
Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), George Akume, issued the directive at the 2025 International Day of Persons with Disabilities Forum in Abuja.
Represented by Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Communication, Nadungu Gagare, the SGF, according to a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Yomi Odunuga, emphasised that Nigeria has moved into a new phase of full enforcement of disability rights, stating, “Accessibility and inclusion are no longer optional. There are now legal requirements across all sectors.”
He described 2025 as a landmark year for disability inclusion, noting the expiration of the five-year moratorium set by the 2018 Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act.
“With that phase over, Nigeria has now transitioned from law enactment to full implementation,” Akume explained.
Highlighting the role of the private sector, Akume called on companies to lead in advancing disability inclusion, noting it as “smart economics” which “boosts innovation, expands talent pools, and strengthens corporate growth.
“Disability inclusion is not charity. It expands talent pools, strengthens corporate reputation, and drives long-term growth”, he said.
Akume further stressed that “Ministries, Departments and Agencies must now demonstrate clear compliance with the provisions of the Disability Act, especially the mandatory 5% employment quota. Public buildings, transportation systems and service channels must be accessible to all. We can no longer afford environments that silently or openly push people away. The era of excuses is over.”
He encouraged recognition of PWDs not through sympathy but through opportunity. “Disability has never meant inability,” he said. “It simply reflects a different pathway to contribution, and that pathway must be free of discrimination, exclusion, and systemic barriers.” Akume further urged, “Inclusion must be reflected in our budgets, infrastructure, hiring decisions, corporate strategies, and daily interactions. Nigeria cannot rise fully while leaving talent behind.”
Akume praised the Office of the Deputy Speaker and the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Foundation for organising the forum at a critical moment in Nigeria’s journey toward full inclusion of Persons With Disabilities. The theme of this year’s forum, ‘Valuable, Driven, Capable,’ was affirmed as a true reflection of PWDs’ contributions to national development.
In a related development, the First Lady of Nigeria, Oluremi Tinubu, has called for prioritising inclusion, accessibility, and empowerment for persons with disabilities to foster social progress.
In her message marking the 2025 International Day of Persons with Disabilities on December 3, she emphasised building a society where everyone, regardless of ability, can thrive and contribute meaningfully.
The day’s theme, “Fostering Disability-Inclusive Societies for Advancing Social Progress,” echoes commitments from the Second World Summit on Social Development in Doha, Qatar, in November 2025, where leaders reaffirmed equity and full participation for persons with disabilities. Mrs Tinubu highlighted Nigeria’s collective duty to ensure independence and support for this group, joining millions worldwide in observance proclaimed by UN Resolution 47/3 since 1992.
Nigeria, with an estimated 35.5 million persons with disabilities, has advanced through the 2018 Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act, though implementation varies across states. The recent National Disability Summit in Abuja launched the National Forum of Disability Commissions and Agencies (NAFDCA) to boost coordination and policies on employment, digital access, and infrastructure.
