Civil society organisations and disability stakeholders have called on the Ekiti State Government to investigate allegations that employment opportunities allocated to Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) in the state civil service were reduced from 30 to 12.
The stakeholders urged the government to restore the original 30 employment slots if the alleged reduction is confirmed, emphasising the need for transparency, accountability and respect for commitments made under the state’s disability inclusion agenda.
The Executive Director of New Generation Girls and Women Development (NIGWD), Mrs Abimbola Aladejare-Salako, described the allegation as serious and called for constructive dialogue between the government and representatives of the disability community. She stressed that any unfulfilled promise made by the government should be honoured, noting that making a commitment must be followed by concrete action.
Similarly, a retired civil servant and member of the Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD), Mr Lanre Olajide, condemned the alleged reduction, describing such a development as unacceptable. He noted that persons with disabilities also have families and responsibilities to cater for and therefore deserve fair opportunities and special consideration in public sector recruitment.
The appeal followed a peaceful protest staged last Monday at the Government House in Ado-Ekiti by persons with disabilities and their supporters over the alleged reduction in the employment allocation.
During the protest, Mr Ariyo Tope of the Nigeria Association of the Blind alleged that Governor Biodun Oyebanji had initially promised 30 employment slots for PWDs as part of his administration’s inclusion agenda, but that the government offices responsible for implementation allegedly reduced the number to 12.
Tope described the development as a betrayal of the governor’s commitment to disability inclusion, adding that even the original 30 slots were insufficient to address the employment needs of thousands of qualified persons with disabilities in the state.
The stakeholders called on the Ekiti State Government to urgently address the concerns, investigate the circumstances surrounding the alleged reduction and ensure that qualified persons with disabilities are given equitable access to employment opportunities.
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