NATIONAL POLICY ON DISABILITY

What Is This Policy?

The National Policy on Disability in Nigeria provides the framework for the inclusion, protection, and empowerment of persons with disabilities (PWDs) in all areas of national life, from education and employment to healthcare, transport, and political participation. It is operationalised by the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act 2018.

Who Does It Target?

Approximately 25 million Nigerians living with physical, sensory, intellectual, and psychosocial disabilities Government agencies required to make services and facilities accessible to persons with disabilities Employers required to provide reasonable accommodation and non-discriminatory hiring practices Schools, hospitals, transport operators, and public building owners

What Does It Aim to Achieve?

Eliminate all forms of discrimination against persons with disabilities in employment, education, healthcare, and public life Guarantee full accessibility of public buildings, transportation, information, and communication technology for PWDs Ensure PWDs are included in the design and delivery of all national development programmes and social protection systems Develop a national social protection system that provides financial support to PWDs unable to support themselves

Key Features

Disability Act 2018: The Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities Act prohibits all discrimination against PWDs; mandates accessibility in all new public buildings; criminalises abandonment of PWDs Accessibility Standards: All new public buildings and transport infrastructure must comply with national accessibility standards within five years of the Act's commencement; existing buildings within seven years Employment Quota: Federal MDAs are required to reserve a minimum of 5% of employment slots for persons with disabilities National Commission for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD): Statutory body established under the 2018 Act to implement the policy, receive complaints, and enforce accessibility standards Disability Trust Fund: A dedicated fund under NCPWD provides grants, training, and assistive technology support to persons with disabilities Inclusive Education Mandate: Links with the National Policy on Inclusive Education to ensure children with disabilities have access to mainstream schooling with appropriate support

Current Status

Rollout Stage: Active; NCPWD operational from 2020; implementation regulations gazetted in 2020 Implementing Body: National Commission for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD); Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development Coverage: National; all 36 states and FCT; states expected to enact state-level disability laws aligned with the federal Act Key Gap: Public building accessibility compliance is still low; most government buildings predate the Act and retrofitting has been slow Funding: NCPWD budget, Disability Trust Fund, JONAPWD programme support, UNICEF, and international disability donors

How to Access

PWDs: Register with NCPWD for access to the Disability Trust Fund, assistive technology, and programme referrals at ncpwd.gov.ng Report Discrimination: File complaints with NCPWD's complaints desk or through JONAPWD at jonapwd.org Employers: Comply with the 5% employment quota; register with NCPWD for guidance on reasonable accommodation and inclusive hiring Contact: NCPWD: ncpwd.gov.ng | JONAPWD: jonapwd.org

Official Resources

Website: ncpwd.gov.ng | jonapwd.org Contact: National Commission for Persons with Disabilities, Abuja | [email protected] Policy Summary | Source: FMWASD, Disability Act 2018, JONAPWD, UN CRPD Nigeria Review, Human Rights Watch Nigeria | February 2026

Legal Framework

The National Policy on Disability operates under the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act 2019, the Child Rights Act 2003, and the 1999 Constitution (Section 42 — freedom from discrimination). It aligns with the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities Act, the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights, and the Sustainable Development Goals on inclusive development (SDG 10).