By The House of Representatives has pledged to strictly implement the legally required 5% recruitment quota for Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) across ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs).
Deputy Speaker Benjamin Okezie Kalu made this known in Abuja on Wednesday at a Policy Forum on workplace inclusion for PWDs. The event, organised by the Shehu Musa Yar’adua Foundation, formed part of activities marking the International Day of Persons with Disabilities.
Kalu described the persistent exclusion of PWDs from economic opportunities as “not only a violation of rights, but an act that undermines national productivity.” He said Nigeria cannot hope to expand its Gross Domestic Product or strengthen its economy while sidelining millions of capable citizens.
“The 5% employment quota for public institutions is not optional. It is a legal requirement. We are transitioning from advocacy to enforcement,” he stated.
The Deputy Speaker explained that the House Committee on Disability Matters, led by Hon. Bashiru Dawodu, now has the authority to demand recruitment data from all MDAs and hold them accountable under the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act of 2018.
However, he noted that compliance must go beyond meeting quotas. He called on chief executives, human resource managers, and private-sector leaders to adopt inclusive hiring practices, sign commitment documents at the forum, and set clear targets for integrating PWDs into their organisations.
Kalu applauded the Shehu Musa Yar’adua Foundation for hosting the dialogue and said that the House would review recommendations from the discussions before the end of the current legislative session.
Speaking earlier, the Foundation’s Director-General, Amara Nwankpa, said the goal of the forum was to push the nation from discussion to tangible action especially several years after the PWD Prohibition Act was passed.
“This initiative is about equity and inclusion. The message is straightforward: create space. People with disabilities are skilled, driven, and fully capable of contributing meaningfully to Nigeria’s workforce,” he said.
Nwankpa added that the challenge is not with PWDs but with organisations that have yet to build inclusive systems. He stressed that the country does not need new laws but the determination to uphold existing ones, urging public bodies, NGOs, and private companies to reflect the intent of the Act in their recruitment and workplace policies.
He also noted the growing interest from development partners and corporate institutions, which he said signals increasing momentum for meaningful change.
Nwankpa announced that the Foundation will reconvene on the same date next year December 3 to assess progress made on commitments signed at the event.
