Kogi: Activist Advocates Inclusive Employment Practices in Civil Service
Ishaq Dan-Imam, Lokoja
The president of the Applicants and Workers with Disabilities Association, Comrade Samuel Mark, has urged the Kogi State government and the state assembly to amend sections of the state’s disability law.
The proposed amendments aim to ensure equal opportunities for persons living with disabilities (PWDs) to gain employment in the state civil service, particularly within the Kogi State Office for Disability Affairs (KOSODA).
Mark, speaking from Lokoja on Friday, highlighted the discrepancy within the current disability law, which allocates 30% of employment slots for PWDs and 70% for able-bodied individuals.
This allocation, he argues, contradicts the aspirations of PWDs in the state and undermines the purpose of the KOSODA, which was established to address their needs through legislative support.
“The issue of unemployment is a serious issue that needs urgent government attention. We appreciate the former governor, Yahaya Adoza Bello, for establishing the Disability Agency, which is expected to cater for the needs of persons with disabilities in the state,” he said.
Expressing dissatisfaction with the lack of representation of PWDs in the workforce of the KOSODA, Mark emphasised the potential contributions of PWDs to the workforce and their marginalization in the labour market.
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“The establishment of the Agency gave us high hope for employment within the agency and other empowerment programs that would bring succour to our members. Unfortunately, it is over three years of establishment now, no single person with disability works in the disability agency,” he said.
He lamented the prevalence of negative perceptions, myths, and prejudices faced by PWDs, particularly women, which hinder their participation in the socio-economic landscape of Nigeria.
Mark underscored the importance of implementing the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities Prohibition Act of 2018, which mandates that employers ensure at least 5% of their workforce comprises PWDs.
He called upon Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo to approve the recruitment of PWDs into the state civil service, emphasising the potential reduction in unemployment and poverty among PWDs.
Mark highlighted past efforts by previous administrations to employ PWDs but noted the limited success due to inadequate representation in employment opportunities.
He stressed the negative consequences of excluding PWDs from income-generating activities, which perpetuate feelings of worthlessness and social and economic exclusion.
