Heads of Disability Cluster Groups, Persons with disabilities, Human Resource Experts and Professional Institutes in Lagos State have validated the labour market assessment for the Inclusion Works project being implemented by Sight Savers Nigeria.
Inclusion Works is a project funded by the Department for Foreign International Development, DFID which seeks to promote the inclusion of persons with disabilities in formal employment.
While validating the assessment that was conducted by an independent consultant, stakeholders present commended the project which they say would pave way for qualified people with disabilities to contribute their quota to the formal sector.
Dare Dairo, Cluster head of the Physically challenged agreed with the recommendations provided by the consultant and also mentioned the importance of tax rebate as a tool to compel employers of labour to recruit PWDs.
Dairo butressed that, “it’s a known fact that the government is the highest employer of PWDs, if there’s provision for tax rebate based on employment provision for PWDs, I am certain that the private sector would be more than willing to employ us.”
He charged persons with disabilities to make themselves viable, qualified and relevant when they get into the formal sector. He added that, “we are not just saying persons with disabilities should be employed but qualified persons. There’s not just ability in disability but productivity in disability.”
The HR Professionals present enlisted some basic skills required to get job and charged PWDs to get the necessary skills which would make them relevant and not burden for employers.
Dr. Adebukola Adebayo, disability inclusion expert and board member of the Lagos State Office for Disability Affairs, LASODA, said the government is willing to support employers with assistive aids which would make jobs easier for persons with disabilities.
Some further recommendations were made to the labour market assessment report and the consultant, Sola Owonikoko assured that necessary actions would be taken to ensure the goal of the project is achieved.