By Lanre Oloyede
Senior Special Assistant to the President on Special Needs and Equal Opportunities, Hon. Mohammed Abba Isa, has pledged to work closely with the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) to end workplace discrimination against Persons With Disabilities (PWDs), particularly journalists with disabilities in Nigeria.
Hon. Abba Isa also expressed the readiness of his office to partner with the media to drive a nationwide advocacy campaign on the implementation of the Discrimination Against Persons With Disabilities (Prohibition) Act, 2018.
He gave the assurance on Thursday when a delegation of the NUJ FCT Council Committee on Disability paid him a courtesy visit at his office in Abuja.
The delegation, led by the Council Secretary, Comrade Jide Oyekunle, who represented the Chairperson, Ms. Grace Eke, alongside the Committee Chairman, Comrade Kehinde Akintola, commended the SSA for granting them audience despite the short notice.
In his remarks, Comrade Oyekunle described the visit as both strategic and significant, noting that the NUJ shares a common vision with the SSA’s office in promoting justice, fairness, and inclusivity.
“The role of the media goes beyond informing and educating. It also includes advocating for justice, fairness, and inclusivity. Our Union is convinced that inclusivity is the path to national progress. A Nigeria that provides equal opportunity for all is a stronger, fairer, and more prosperous nation,” Oyekunle stated.
He pledged that the NUJ FCT Council would use its vast print, broadcast, and digital platforms to amplify the voices of PWDs, challenge stereotypes, and promote policies that guarantee their inclusion.
The NUJ FCT Council scribe averred that the media remains committed to amplifying the voices of Persons with disabilities and promoting stories that inspire understanding, empathy, and policy change.
“Your Excellency, our Union is convinced that inclusivity is the path to national progress. A Nigeria that provides equal opportunity for all is a stronger, fairer, and more prosperous nation.
“This visit, is therefore, not only to express solidarity, but also to reaffirm our willingness to work with your Office in driving awareness, correcting stereotypes, as well as negative identities which many people have placed on Persons with disabilities, and ensuring that issues affecting persons with special needs remain a priority in public discourse.
“We are aware of the challenges confronting your office, maybe limited resources, societal attitudes, sometimes inadequate implementation of existing laws and policies.The NUJ FCT Council pledges to use its vast platform across Print, Broadcast, and digital media to highlight these challenges constructively and to showcase the progress being made,” he submitted.
On his part, Chairman of the NUJ FCT Council Committee on Disability, Comrade Kehinde Akintola, decried the high level of discrimination faced by journalists with disabilities in workplaces. He revealed that findings from advocacy visits to media houses showed widespread non-compliance with the provisions of the Disability Act.
He urged the SSA to set up a presidential task force to enforce the Act, lamenting that the five-year moratorium for compliance has elapsed with little progress recorded.
Akintola also called for skill acquisition support, provision of assistive devices, and opportunities for journalists with disabilities to explore careers in para-sports.
In his response, Hon. Abba Isa reiterated that his mandate from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is to create avenues of opportunity for PWDs through collaborations with MDAs, civil society, development partners, and professional bodies such as the NUJ.
He maintain that the media remains of his biggest partners in fulfilling this mandate.
“Without the media, our voices cannot be amplified; and when our voices are not amplified, they cannot be heard. Through your platform, we can highlight the challenges faced by PWDs as well as showcase their talents, innovations, and contributions to national development,” Hon. Abba Isa said.
In continuing, he said: “Furthermore, beyond amplifying voices, my office also has the responsibility of ensuring that safe, accessible, and disability-friendly environments are provided for PWDs in all spheres, including the workplace. My office will be working hand in hand with the NUJ FCT Chapter under the able leadership of Mrs. Grace Eke to ensure that no journalist suffers discrimination or mistreatment on account of disability.”
He disclosed that President Tinubu has already approved the establishment of a Presidential Implementation Taskforce to oversee the enforcement of the National Disability Act and promised to co-opt members of the NUJ FCT Committee on Disability into its activities.
The SSA also commended the leadership of NUJ FCT Chairperson, Ms. Grace Eke, for establishing the Disability Committee, describing it as the first of its kind in Nigeria’s media industry and a bold step toward inclusion.
“As we continue this journey, I want to assure you that my office remains open for partnership with the NUJ and all stakeholders. Together, we can advance inclusive development and build a society where no one is left behind,” Isa concluded.
