The Federal Government has pledged to end workplace discrimination against journalists with disabilities.
The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Special Needs and Equal Opportunities, Hon. Mohammed Abba, gave the assurance in Abuja during a meeting with the NUJ FCT Council Committee on Disability, led by Comrades Jide Oyekunle and Kehinde Akintola.
Abba, who conveyed President Bola Tinubu’s goodwill to the delegation and the 35.1 million Nigerians living with disabilities, said his office would work with the NUJ to ensure fairness and inclusion.
“My office will be working hand in hand with the NUJ FCT Council under the able leadership of Comrade Grace Ike to ensure that no journalist suffers discrimination or mistreatment on account of disability,” he said.
He noted that the media remains a key partner in amplifying the voices of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) and commended the NUJ FCT Council for establishing the first-ever disability committee in the Nigerian media industry.
NUJ FCT Chairperson, Comrade Grace Ike, represented by Secretary Jide Oyekunle, pledged the union’s commitment to driving advocacy and correcting stereotypes against PWDs.
“We will use our platforms across print, broadcast, and digital media to highlight challenges constructively and showcase progress being made,” she said.
Chairman of the NUJ Committee on Disability, Comrade Kehinde Akintola, urged government to enforce the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act, signed into law in 2018.
He called for the setting up of a Presidential Committee to ensure compliance across all sectors.
The visit ended with the presentation of a Charter of Requests to Hon. Abba for consideration.
