The National Commission for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWDs), in collaboration with TAF Africa and SightSavers, has inaugurated the framework for a national access to work scheme for Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) in Nigeria.
Mr. Ayuba Burki, the executive secretary of NCPWD, made this known during a luncheon of the initiative on Wednesday in Lagos.
Burki expressed delight for the luncheon of the initiative, describing it as a ‘wonderful policy’ that would ensure the inclusivity of PWDs in the Nigerian labour market.
According to him, the scheme is a significant step toward creating a more inclusive and equitable workforce, empowering PWDs to secure and retain employment.
“The act that set up the NCPWD prohibits in every sense any discrimination in the workplace.
“So, this framework is a guide that the disability community would use to make sure that every organization and government agency is in absolute compliance with the provisions of the commission that ban any form of discrimination against PWDs in the workplace.
“The National Commission for PWDs is like a regulatory agency. So, this is the guide, and we are like the watchdog.
“We have our tracking system; for instance, the bill clearly specifies that at least five percent of employment opportunity would be reserved for PWDs,” Burki said.
Burki decried that the five percent reservation was a gross underestimation compared to the total percentage of PWDs in the Nigerian population, asking the question, ” If only five percent of PWDs would be considered for employment, what then happens to the many others?””.
He, therefore, called on the Nigerian populace to adhere to the strict inclusivity sensitisation awareness so that Nigeria would be a country for all.
He also urged every state of the Federation to establish a commission for PWDs so that it would oversee matters relating to disability in the state.
“However, it’s good to start from somewhere. So, this framework is wonderful, and we’re happy that it’s launched today.
“No more discrimination in the workplace and no more discrimination anywhere in the country,” he said.
He expressed appreciation to TAF Africa and SightSavers for collaborating with the NCPWD on the initiative.
Mr. George Dominic, Assistant Program Manager of TAF Africa, said the initiative was a milestone event that would help a lot in the employment and inclusivity of PWDs in Nigeria.
Dominic said the initiative aims to promote the employment of PWDs in the private sector by providing support to cover the additional costs associated with employing PWDs, such as assistive devices like screen readers and prostheses.
“The ‘Work Scheme Framework’ will help to support PWDs to get employment in the private sector.
“The private sector may have challenges with the extra cost associated with the employment of PWDs; however, the ‘Access to Work Scheme’ is here to support the private sector so that they don’t have to be afraid of the extra cost of employing PWDs.
“This is because the scheme is meant to provide assistive devices that would help them to be productive on their job,” Dominic said.
Speaking, Joyce Shuabu, the Country Director for SightSavers Nigeria, celebrated the collaboration, which involved the private sector, government, and all other actors who were working to ensure that PWDs have access to livelihood.
According to her, with the initiative, the PWDs can feed their families and also contribute meaningfully to society.
“SightSavers has been working in Nigeria for 81 years now, and one of the visions is that PWDs have an equal opportunity to health, to education, and a sense of livelihood,” Shuabu said. (NAN)
