FG Orders Strict Enforcement of 5% Employment Quota for Persons With Disabilities

The Federal Government has directed all ministries, departments and agencies to immediately enforce the mandatory five per cent employment quota for Persons With Disabilities, saying the period of excuses for non-compliance has ended.

Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, delivered the directive on Tuesday at the 2025 International Day of Persons with Disabilities Forum in Abuja, marking the beginning of a new phase of full implementation of disability rights.

A statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Yomi Odunuga, said the SGF noted that with the expiration of the five-year moratorium under the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities Act, accessibility in public buildings, transport systems and service channels has become a legal obligation.

Akume, represented by a Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Communication, Nadungu Gagare, added that President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda places priority on inclusion, stressing that all government institutions must comply fully with the provisions of the law.

He urged the private sector to also embrace disability inclusion, describing it as a driver of innovation, competitiveness and corporate growth, rather than an act of charity.

“Accessibility is no longer optional. It is the law. The era of excuses is over,” he said.

“Disability has never meant inability; it simply represents a different pathway to contribution. When we open our doors to all talents, we strengthen our economy, expand creativity, and build a nation where everyone has the chance to thrive,” he added

The SGF outlined key priorities for accelerating inclusion, including recruiting qualified PWDs to meet the quota, creating accessible work environments, and expanding leadership and enterprise opportunities, while commending the Office of the Deputy Speaker and the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Foundation for convening the forum at a critical moment in Nigeria’s journey toward full inclusion.