‘Six appointments, 30 jobs out of thousands’ – PWDs in Niger decry exclusion

“We are never carried along in politics or other opportunities. Nobody wants to listen to us.”

That was the frustration expressed by Muhammad Abubakar Enagi, Executive Director of Empowerment Initiative of Persons with Disabilities in Niger State, as he spoke to DAILY POST on what he described as continued exclusion of persons with disabilities (PWDs) from political appointments, employment and government interventions in the state.

From political inclusion and job opportunities to agricultural support and the long-awaited disability commission, members of the disability community say they have continued to face neglect despite repeated engagements with the government.

While officials insist efforts are ongoing to strengthen disability rights through legal amendments and proposed institutional reforms, disability groups say implementation remains weak.

Enagi alleged that out of about 5,000 political appointments made in the state, only six went to persons with disabilities.

“The only political appointments we have are one Senior Special Assistant, one Coordinator and four Special Assistants out of about 5,000 appointments,” he said.

According to him, PWDs are consistently sidelined in governance and decision-making processes.

“We are excluded from development in the state. We suffer a lot of discrimination. Nobody wants to listen to us,” the Executive Director added.

He further claimed that out of about 10,000 permanent and pensionable jobs announced by the governor at a public function, only about 30 went to persons with disabilities.

“When we raise the issue, some officials will say even able-bodied persons have not gotten enough, so how much more persons with disabilities,”  Enagi stated. 

Former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) disability leader in Niger State, Abubakar Musa, corroborated the claims, saying access to opportunities for PWDs often comes through informal networks rather than structured inclusion.

“We had to struggle seriously before those 30 slots were approved. We even had to defend them before they were eventually given to us,” he said.

Efforts to reach the Niger State Civil Service Commission for reaction were unsuccessful as of press time.

Demand for disability commission

One of the key demands of disability groups in Niger State is the establishment of a commission for persons with disabilities.

Enagi said the commission was part of promises made ahead of the 2023 elections, and that engagements have continued since then.

The Executive Director recalled that during the distribution of agricultural inputs by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security in Minna in September 2025, Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago assured them of the commission.

“We met him in the presence of the Minister of State for Agriculture and other top officials. He told us the new commissioner would establish the commission for us,” he disclosed.

According to him, disability groups are pushing for the commission to be placed directly under the Governor’s Office, even though, at the federal level, it is under the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction (FMHAPR)

“We believe it will be more effective there,” he noted.

Voices from the community

Mohammed Ladan and Saba Usman from Gbako Local Government Area expressed hope that the commission would address their challenges.

“We will be happy if the governor establishes the commission for us. Many of our problems will be solved,” they said.

Aliyu Hassan Hussaini from Katcha Local Government Area said the community remains hopeful despite delays.

“Most of our challenges will be settled when the commission is established. Our people are really suffering but we are hopeful,” he told DAILY POST.

Mahmud Muhammad, a PWD youth leader in Minna, said expectations remain high.

“The governor promised us in September 2025 during farm implement distribution that he would give us the commission. We are still waiting,” he stated.

Hadiza Mohammed, State Chairperson of the Albino Association of Nigeria, Niger State chapter and Auditor of the Joint State Association of Persons With Disabilities, said the establishment of a commission remains critical to addressing the diverse needs of persons with disabilities in the state.

According to her, one of the major challenges is the absence of reliable data and a coordinated structure to channel interventions.

“The reason we are clamouring for this commission is because the needs of persons with disabilities differ.

“Without the commission, even the actual data of persons with disabilities in the state is not known. The commission will help gather data, address our challenges and ensure our rights are protected,” she said.

Binta Musa: struggle of women with disability

For Binta Musa, a woman with physical disability affecting one of her legs in Minna, exclusion is not only political but economic.

She said many women with disabilities struggle to access empowerment programmes and livelihood support.

According to her, “Many women with disabilities are struggling. Some are widows, some are taking care of children and many do not have stable means of livelihood. We want government programmes to reach us too.”

Parent speaks on burden of care

For Mrs Zainab Ibrahim, a parent of an autistic child, families of children with special needs face heavy financial and emotional pressure.

She stated, ” The challenge is not only for the child. It affects the entire family. Some of us spend a lot on healthcare, education and transportation”

According to her, stronger government support systems are needed to improve the lives of children living with disabilities.

Agricultural intervention controversy

PWD groups also raised concerns over access to agricultural support programmes in the state.

They alleged that during a farm input and tractor distribution event attended by the wife of the President, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, at the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Airport, Minna, on May 2, 2026, their association was listed among beneficiaries but had yet to receive allocations.

Reacting, the Commissioner for Agriculture, Alhaji Isah Sidi Rijau, and the Permanent Secretary, Dr Ahmed Matthew, said the interventions were not free and required payment by beneficiaries.

“If they need tractors, they can go to their local governments where we have distributed ten for each of them, pay and collect. 

“The same applies to fertilizer, which is selling for N30, 000 per bag. It’s half the market price and once they pay for the number of bags, it will be given to them,” they explained.

Matthew added that fertiliser under the Renewed Hope Farm Input Support Programme implemented by the National Agricultural Development Fund (NADF) would be distributed free, but supply remains limited.

He said Niger State received 5,000 bags for over 2.7 million farmers and assured that PWDs were included among beneficiaries.

How herders destroyed our farm — PWDs

Documents obtained and reviewed by DAILY POST showed that a cooperative made up of people with disability entered into a six-month lease agreement with the Tagwai Dam community for farmland.

The agreement, dated January 7, 2026, showed that the group paid N150,000 as lease fees to Bawa Murwa on behalf of the community.

 The document was witnessed by four persons and signed by Muhammad Abubakar Enagi on behalf of the cooperative society.

Enagi said the group spent an additional N50,000 on related expenses, bringing the total initial cost to about N200,000.

He said members cultivated crops including rice, pepper and okra after securing support and working collectively on the farm.

“We were doing that because we did not want to continue begging,” he said.

According to him, young herders repeatedly invaded the farm and destroyed crops despite repeated warnings.

He lamented, “There were times the young Fulani boys returned at night and destroyed everything we had planted, despite operating shifts to prevent them and investing so much because engaging in dry season farming is not as easy as wet season”

He also alleged threats during the confrontation.

“There was a day one of them almost attacked me and I had to beg him to spare my life because I have no legs to fight him or run away during the confrontation,” he said.

Further checks showed that the association wrote a petition dated February 19, 2026, to the Ministry of Nomadic and Pastoral Affairs over the incident.

The letter, signed by Comrade Abubakar Sadiq Hassan, was copied to 13 agencies and organisations, including the Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries, Federal Ministry of Agriculture, DSS, Police, Niger Foods, and VCDP .

The group said it eventually received ₦500,000 compensation despite estimating losses at over N3 million.

Efforts to reach the Commissioner for Nomadic and Pastoral Affairs, Umar Rebe, were unsuccessful as calls and messages sent to him were not returned as of press time.

Government explains position

Responding, the Director of Rehabilitation, Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, Hajiya Hajara Aliyu said the government was working to strengthen the legal framework for persons with disabilities in the state.

She said consultations held between 2022 and 2023 led to proposals to amend the existing disability law.

However, findings by DAILY POST showed that Niger State already has a disability law.

A copy of the Niger State of Nigeria Gazette No. 24, Vol. 19, dated December 2, 2014, obtained by this newspaper, contains provisions for the establishment of a commission for the welfare, protection and rehabilitation of persons living with disabilities.

Ndayako  said stakeholders agreed the law requires review to align with the federal disability framework and current realities.

According to her, recommendations have been forwarded to the Ministry of Justice, while a draft amendment is already being prepared for the State House of Assembly.

She added that the government remains committed to improving inclusion and protecting the rights of persons with disabilities.

Waiting for inclusion

For many persons with disabilities in Niger State, the expectation remains that promises, policies and reforms will translate into real inclusion, employment opportunities and meaningful participation in governance.