The National Commission for Persons With Disabilities (NCPWD) has called on MDAs and employers of labour to implement the provision of Discrimination Against Persons With Disabilities (Prohibition) Act 2018 on Employment.
The Executive Secretary, NCPWD, Mr James Lalu, represented by the Director, Compliance and Enforcement of the commission Barr. Ikem Uchegbulam made this call during a town hall meeting organized for North Central Zone Keffi in Nasarawa state On Tuesday.
Mr. Lalu informed that the town hall meeting was aimed at sensitizing stakeholders on the provisions of the law and the consequence of not adhering to section 28 and 29 of the Discrimination Against Persons with Disability (Prohibition Act 2018 which stipulate that PWDs shall access to gainful employment and Section 29 stipulates that 5% employment quota reserved for PWDs in all MDAs.
“Section 29 states that five percent of the entire workforce of public organisations should be reserved for persons with disability”
“So, the essence of this town hall meeting is to track, monitor and ensure that sections of the Act is complied with by the public organisations,”
“Part of the mandate of the commission is to ensure the enforcement of the constitutional provisions which recognizes the fact that people with disability have right to decent employment as well as the right to decide where they want”.
“We are not relenting in our efforts to ensure five percent employment for our members.”
In the TownHall Meeting with the theme “Employment: A necessity for a better life for persons with disability in Nigeria”, it was designed to sensitize stakeholders on the importance of job opportunities for PWDs both in public and private sector.
Lalu lamented that despite the existence of law and the obligation to ensure compliance, during employment, some organization still do not comply, they always find a way to deny PWDs these opportunities.
“During replacement, they don’t advertise the vacancy, it is through their internal arrangement and they don’t adhere to the five percent for PWDs in accordance to the law”.
Mr. Lalu promised to strengthen advocacy towards ensuring that PWDs are adequately captured during employment in both public and private sector.
He also said that they will go after those organizations that have entrenched discrimination against PWDs.
He then urged the stakeholders present to do proper report that will speak to the conscientious of the heads of their departments so that there would be progress in the implementation of Section 29 of the Act.
Earlier, in the goodwill message, the Minister Of Labour, Mr. Simon Lalong represented by Mr. Ejeh Dennis, Deputy Director, Inspectorate Department, Federal Ministry of Labour, said that President Tinubu Administration is committed towards ensuring socio-economic inclusion of PWDs especially in the area of employment.
“I am optimistic that the income of this meeting will further create more opportunities and access to employment for persons with disabilities”
Lalong reiterated that Labour Ministry will continue to collaborate with the commission to ensure decent work and productive employment for PWDs as well as protection of their rights.
In the same vein, The Federal Minister of Humanitarian and Poverty Alleviation, Dr. Betta Edu represented by Mr. Sunday Hezekiah, Deputy Director in the ministry, said that ministry will provide the necessary in accordance with its mandate for PWDs.
Betta Edu called MDAs to be mindful of these sections of Disability Act and ensure that the rights of PWDs are uphold in the area of employment.
The event witnessed presentation on the provision of the Act On Employment and Violation Of Section 1 which criminalized discrimination on the basis of disability.
There was a robust discussion from the stakeholders and some major outcome were continuous advocacy, MDAs rising up to their obligation, PWDs knowing more about their rights and make demands for them, PWDs who are employed giving their best in the face of discrimination to change the perception of low work performance from PWDs, PWDs doing more towards reporting of cases of violation and testing the law at the courts and the Act should be amended to include private sector in the 5% employment quota.
