FG, NUJ FCT Partner to End Workplace Discrimination Against Journalists with Disabilities

By Joseph Iyaji | Akahi News

The Federal Government has reiterated its commitment to ending all forms of workplace discrimination against journalists living with disabilities, pledging to create safe, inclusive, and disability-friendly environments across Nigeria’s media industry.

This assurance came on Tuesday in Abuja from the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Special Needs and Equal Opportunities, Hon. Mohammed Abba, during a strategic meeting with the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) FCT Council Committee on Disability, led by Comrades Jide Oyekunle and Kehinde Akintola.

Federal Government Reaffirms Inclusive Development Goals

Hon. Abba, who conveyed the goodwill of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to the NUJ delegation, stated that the current administration places a high premium on inclusive development and remains determined to dismantle barriers hindering persons with disabilities (PWDs) from achieving their full potential.

“My mandate is to create opportunities for PWDs by collaborating with Ministries, Departments, Agencies, Civil Society Organisations, Development Partners, and, importantly, with professional bodies like the NUJ,” he said. “One of our biggest allies in this mission is the media. Without the media, our voices cannot be amplified, and when our voices are silent, meaningful change becomes difficult.”

According to Akahi News findings, the SSA emphasised that partnership with journalists would help reshape societal attitudes, promote disability rights, and ensure that the challenges and successes of PWDs are brought to national attention.

NUJ Pledges Collaboration, Seeks Enforcement of Disability Rights

Speaking on behalf of the NUJ FCT Council, Secretary of the Council, Comrade Jide Oyekunle, who represented Chairperson Comrade Grace Ike, expressed delight at Hon. Abba’s appointment and pledged the Union’s readiness to partner with his office.

Oyekunle highlighted the need to eliminate harmful stereotypes and negative identities often associated with disability, stressing that the NUJ would use its wide platforms in print, broadcast, and digital media to lead national conversations on disability inclusion, ethical journalism, and workplace equality.

He also disclosed plans for structural collaboration with the Presidential Office on Special Needs to launch media campaigns sensitising the public on disability rights while organising capacity-building programmes for journalists on inclusive reporting standards.

Call for Implementation of Disability Law

Chairman of the NUJ FCT Committee on Disability, Comrade Kehinde Akintola, applauded Hon. Abba’s efforts but noted that the full implementation of the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act 2018 remains a major challenge six years after its enactment.

“While the law was a milestone, enforcement has been slow, particularly within the media industry,” Akintola said. He urged the Federal Government to establish a Presidential Committee to ensure compliance with the law across all sectors.

Historic Role of NUJ FCT Council

Hon. Abba particularly commended NUJ FCT Chairperson, Comrade Grace Ike, for her leadership in creating the Disability Committee — the first of its kind in Nigeria’s media history. He described the initiative as a bold step towards inclusion, noting that history would remember her for championing the rights of PWDs in the journalism profession.

“This is about more than advocacy; it is about institutional change,” Abba remarked, assuring that the government would work with the NUJ to create disability-friendly workplaces where no journalist is left behind.

Next Steps: From Advocacy to Action

The meeting ended with the NUJ FCT Committee on Disability presenting a charter of requests to Hon. Abba, detailing areas requiring urgent government intervention, including workplace accessibility, law enforcement mechanisms, and training for media professionals on disability reporting.

Observers believe this partnership could mark a turning point in the fight against workplace discrimination, fostering a media environment where journalists with disabilities can thrive professionally without fear of bias or exclusion.

Akahi News http://www.akahinews.org