by Stella Nnaji
Comprising around 19 million of the general population, Nigerians living with disabilities have pushed for more inclusive policies and practices, particularly in the workplace, in recent years.
Although the disability was used to describe people with physical and sensory impairments such as albinism, it is now commonly used to define those who are unable to cope with normal school methods and processes without formal training in the field of special needs education, according to the National Policy on Special Needs Education and the 2015 Implementation Guidelines.
An apparent lack of awareness about this definition presents perhaps the first significant hurdle facing People With Disabilities (PWDs) in Nigeria. The average Nigerian lacks a proper understanding about the different impairments that constitute disabilities. The result of this knowledge gap in the national population is the continued discrimination and stigmatization of PWDs not only in the workplace but among their immediate communities.
Second is the stereotypes that pigeonhole PWD, particularly those with loss of hearing and vision impairments, as beggars and thieves. This perception most likely grew from the Northern part of the country, where PWDs are often seen begging for alms. This bias is similarly widespread in many workplace, where employers are unwilling to hire a person with a disability, whom they perceive as incompetent to carry out work responsibilities effectively.
Where a PWD is eventually employed, they sometimes face another problem of accessibility. Several workplaces are without ramps and stair lifts for easy mobility, thereby stalling productivity and causing more distress for the PWDs. Over the years, these odds have conspired to keep PWDs in extreme poverty; nine out of ten PWDs in Nigeria are estimated to be living below the poverty line.
Notwithstanding the odds, there has been notable interventions to correct the stigmatisation of PWDs in Nigeria. The Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act, passed into law in 2019, prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability and mandates buildings and spaces to be accessible to persons with disabilities. It also requires that workers with disabilities be provided with appropriate accommodation by their employers.
Nonprofit outfits such as the Northern Nigeria Disability Forum (NNDF) have broadened the advocacy in recent times, urging for a 5% affirmative action in relation to people with disabilities. Additionally, they have also called on the government to demonstrate its commitment to inclusion and democracy by recruiting people with disabilities in its cabinet.
The growing number of PWDs braving the hurdles to stand tall in their careers offers immense inspiration. Their grass-to-grace testimonies underscore the brighter futures that could be fashioned for some of the country’s PWDs, with adequate infrastructure and national approach.
While the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act, and the Northern Nigeria Disability Forum (NNDF) amplify the rights of PWDs, the persisting knowledge gap within the populace remain formidable threats, suggesting that there is still a long way to achieving inclusion for all PWDs in the Nigerian workplace.
Nigerians living with disabilities, totaling around 19 million, have been advocating for more inclusive policies and practices in the workplace. Despite the challenges of a limited public understanding of disabilities and persistent stereotypes, steps have been taken to address these issues. The 2019 Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act outlaws discrimination and mandates accessible workplaces. Nonprofits like the Northern Nigeria Disability Forum push for affirmative action and government inclusion of PWDs in leadership roles. However, significant obstacles such as accessibility issues and a knowledge gap in the populace continue to hinder full inclusion, leaving many PWDs in poverty.
