TQM report,
Centre for Citizens with disabilities (CCD) have condemned in strong terms the brazen and willful discrimination against citizens with disabilities with impunity by the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) 2021 Recruitment advert of July 13, 2021. The FRSC is a para-military organisation that claims to be the lead agency in road traffic administration and safety management in Nigeria.
In a press statement titled Discrimination of Citizens with Disabilities with Impunity by the Federal Road Safety Commission 2021 Recruitment Exercise signed by The Executive Director, CCD, Mr. David Anyaele, in item five, other conditions of the category, the Corp explicitly prohibits persons with different forms of disability from applying to serve in their institution. FRSC recruitment requirements state that applicants with any of the following (14 types of) disabilities need not apply. Thereby discriminating against eligible citizens with disabilities from applying for the recruitment.
He further stated that this prohibition of persons with disabilities from applying for FRSC job is clear violation of the sections 28 (1) and (29) of the Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act 2018, which provides that a person with disability have the right to work on an equal basis with others and this includes the right to opportunity to gain a living by work freely chosen or accepted in a labour market and work environment that is open. (29) All employers of labour in public organisations shall, as much as possible, have persons with disabilities constituting at least 5% of their employment.
This violation of the rights of persons with disabilities by the Federal Road Safety Commission is a total disregard of President Mohammadu Buhari’s directive in his 2020 June 12 National Broadcast in which he clearly stated as follows “The commitment of this Administration to the well-being of people with disabilities remains unwavering. Government recognizes their contributions to development. I have directed that all relevant Government agencies pay special attention to the peculiarities of persons with disabilities in the formulation and implementation of their policies and programmes, and where suitable their employment”.
“This discriminatory advert by Federal Road Safety Commission against Nigerians with disabilities is a confirmation that it is State institutions that are key drivers of discrimination against persons with disabilities”.
“We therefore demand that the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) pull down the advert with an apology to more than 31 million people with disabilities in Nigeria”.
The group further demanded that FRSC replaces the advert with a note stating that FRSC is an organisation that promotes equal opportunity, as such women and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply.
CCD would be monitoring the compliance to these demands and full implementation of the National Disability Act by FRSC, as failure which would compel us to approach a court of competent jurisdiction for the protection of right of persons with disabilities to employment in FRSC.
The Centre for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD) is a not-for-profit making and foremost human rights organization of, and for persons with disabilities that works to promote inclusion, participation, access, and the mainstreaming of issues of critical concern of citizens with disabilities in the programmes and activities of state and non-state institutions. Also, it works to educate, support and empower persons with disabilities and their families to maximize their potential.
CCD is recognized by Federal and State Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) as a credible NGO working on disability matters. We have over the past fifteen years sought a redefinition of society’s perception of the plight of persons with disabilities.
CCD successfully led CSO’s campaign for the passage and assent of Governor Babatunde Fashola and President Mohammadu Buhari on Lagos State Special Peoples’ Law and the National Disability Act in 2011 and 2019 respectively.
Part of CCD’s mandate and objectives include to protect, promote, and safeguard the rights of persons with disabilities and promote public enlightenment in civic education, human rights and public policy; and to initiate and implement programmes, policies and activities geared toward the promotion and enhancement of the welfare of persons with disabilities.
