The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Special Needs and Equal Opportunities, Mohammed Abba Isa, has urged judicial authorities across Nigeria to take deliberate steps toward appointing qualified lawyers with disabilities to the Bench, insisting that true justice cannot thrive without representation.
Abba Isa made the call on Friday while delivering a goodwill message at the 2025 Annual Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association Lawyers With Disabilities Forum (NBA-LWDF), held in Asaba, Delta State. The high-profile gathering brought together legal practitioners, disability-rights advocates, policymakers, and dignitaries committed to advancing inclusion within Nigeria’s legal system.
In his remarks, the presidential aide emphasized that the judiciary cannot claim to be inclusive when those entrusted with interpreting and dispensing justice remain largely underrepresented. He stressed that inclusion must go beyond token accessibility to meaningful participation at the highest echelons of the judicial structure.
“Competent and qualified lawyers with disabilities are everywhere in this country. They have met every professional requirement and continue to demonstrate excellence. What they need now is deliberate inclusion. Justice cannot be truly inclusive if the people interpreting it are missing from the Bench,” he said.
Abba Isa called on the Judiciary, the National Judicial Council (NJC), and other appointing authorities to break long-standing barriers preventing capable legal practitioners with disabilities from assuming judicial positions. He noted that many of the barriers faced by lawyers with disabilities stem not from capability but from outdated systems and discriminatory practices.
Beyond representation, the presidential aide also highlighted the urgent need to make courtrooms and judicial institutions fully accessible to all. He advocated for functional elevators, ramps, accessible restrooms, assistive technologies, and other features that ensure dignity for lawyers, litigants, witnesses, and courtroom users with disabilities.
“Accessibility is not a favour; it is a right. Every court in this country should be designed to serve every Nigerian,” he added.
This year’s conference, themed “Beyond Triumphs: Advancing Inclusion, Impact, and Leadership for Persons with Disabilities,” provided a robust platform for participants to discuss reforms in accessibility legislation, inclusive workplace practices, leadership pathways, and the role of emerging technologies in modern legal practice.
Speakers at the event underscored the need for stronger policies that reflect Nigeria’s commitment to equality and uphold the rights of persons with disabilities as enshrined in the Discrimination Against Persons With Disabilities (Prohibition) Act 2018.
Reaffirming President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s dedication to ending occupational discrimination, Abba Isa reiterated that the Renewed Hope Administration is determined to build a society where disability is never a barrier to ambition, professional progress, or leadership.
He commended the leadership of the NBA-LWDF, the Conference Planning Committee, and partner organizations for their unwavering commitment to promoting accessibility, empowerment, and leadership opportunities for lawyers with disabilities.
The Asaba conference has been widely described as a major step forward in the push for a more inclusive legal profession, setting a renewed agenda for disability-inclusive governance, representation, and justice delivery in Nigeria.
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