PWDs To Drag FRSC To Court Over Discriminatory Job Advert

By Matthew Ogune, Abuja

The Centre for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD) has vowed to drag the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) to court over a recruitment advert of July 13, 2021 it said has discriminated its members.

Executive Director of CCD, David Anyaele who made this vow yesterday in Abuja noted that the body condemns in strong terms the brazen and wilful discrimination against citizens with disabilities with impunity by the FRSC in the advert.

According to Anyaele, the FRSC is a para-military organisation that claims to be the lead agency in road traffic administration and safety management in Nigeria.

His words: “CCD would be monitoring the compliance to these demands and full implementation of the National Disability Act by FRSC, as failure which would compel us to approach a court of competent jurisdiction for the protection of right of persons with disabilities to employment in FRSC.

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“In item five, other conditions of the category, the Corp explicitly prohibits persons with different forms of disability from applying to serve in their institution.

“FRSC recruitment requirements state that applicants with any of the following (14 types of) disabilities need not apply. Thereby discriminating against eligible citizens with disabilities from applying for the recruitment.

“This prohibition of persons with disabilities from applying for FRSC job is clear violation of the sections 28 (1) and (29) of the Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act 2018, which provides that a person with disability have the right to work on an equal basis with others and this includes the right to opportunity to gain a living by work freely chosen or accepted in a labour market and work environment that is open. (29) All employers of labour in public organisations shall, as much as possible, have persons with disabilities constituting at least 5% of their employment.

“This violation of the rights of persons with disabilities by the Federal Road Safety Commission is a total disregard of President Mohammadu Buhari’s directive in his 2020 June 12 National Broadcast in which he clearly stated as follows “The commitment of this Administration to the well-being of people living with disabilities remains unwavering.

“Government recognizes their contributions to development. I have directed that all relevant Government agencies pay special attention to the peculiarities of persons with disabilities in the formulation and implementation of their policies and programmes, and where suitable their employment.”

“This discriminatory advert by Federal Road Safety Commission against Nigerians with disabilities is a confirmation that it is State institutions that are key drivers of discrimination against persons with disabilities.

“We therefore demand that the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) pull down the advert with an apology to more than 31 million people with disabilities in Nigeria.

“We further demand that FRSC replaces the advert with a note stating that FRSC is an organisation that promotes equal opportunity, as such women and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply.”