“Accessibility Is Now The Law, Not Optional” — SGF George Akume Directs MDAs To Enforce Disability Rights

The federal government has ordered ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) to fully comply with the mandatory five per cent employment quota for Persons With Disabilities (PWDs), declaring that the era of excuses for non-compliance has come to an end.

Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, issued the directive on Tuesday at the 2025 International Day of Persons with Disabilities Forum in Abuja.

According to a statement issued by Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Yomi Odunuga, the SGF said the government has entered a new phase of full enforcement of disability rights across all sectors.

Akume, represented by a Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Communication, Nadungu Gagare said accessibility to public buildings, transport systems, and service channels is now a legal requirement, not a matter of goodwill.

Describing 2025 as “a historic year” for disability inclusion, the SGF noted that the five-year moratorium provided under the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act of 2018 has expired, moving Nigeria from transition to enforcement.

With this shift, he said, MDAs must demonstrate clear adherence to the law.

“The federal government under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu remains firmly committed to building a Nigeria where no one is excluded from meaningful participation. Accessibility is no longer optional. It is the law. The era of excuses is over”, he stated.

Akume also urged the private sector to champion disability inclusion, arguing that it is not an act of charity but “smart economics” that improves innovation, widens the talent pool, and enhances corporate growth and reputation.

“Companies that embrace diversity and inclusion outperform their peers. Disability has never meant inability, it simply reflects a different pathway to contribution”, he said.

He emphasised that PWDs are not seeking sympathy but access, opportunity, and fair recognition.

Their contributions, as artisans, entrepreneurs, technologists, educators, and public servants, are already shaping national development, he noted.

The SGF outlined three priority actions for national progress: employing qualified PWDs to meet the 5 per cent quota; equipping workplaces with accessible tools and environments; and expanding leadership and enterprise opportunities for PWDs, including support for PWD-owned businesses.

“Inclusion must be reflected in our budgets, infrastructure, hiring decisions, corporate strategies, and daily interactions. Nigeria cannot rise fully while leaving talent behind”, he said.

Akume commended the Office of the Deputy Speaker and the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Foundation for hosting what he described as a timely forum, coming at a moment when Nigeria is at a major turning point on its journey toward full inclusion.

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