Kogi State disability advocates demand job quota enforcement

In Kogi State, unemployed graduates with disabilities are calling on Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo to enforce the Kogi State Disability Law. The group, Applicants/Workers with Disabilities, reports that while the law mandates that 6% of all recruitments in Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) be reserved for Persons with Disabilities (PWDs), the provision remains unimplemented.

Comrade Samuel Mark, President of the group, stated that many members hold advanced degrees but remain unable to afford essential assistive devices, such as wheelchairs and hearing aids, due to a lack of income. He noted that the group faces unique economic hurdles, including higher costs for education and specialized transportation.

In a separate development, the Kogi State government has launched the Ododo Continuity PWD Empowerment Project. Unveiled by the Executive Secretary of the Kogi State Office for Disability Affairs (KOSODA), Hon. Yakubu Nazir Abdulhakeem, the initiative aims to promote economic independence through skills acquisition centers, financial support, and assistance in setting up point-of-sale (POS) businesses.