Job seekers with visual impairments have expressed their disappointment regarding what they allege to be their exclusion from the recruitment for civil service positions in Lagos State.
The candidates, organized under the state chapter of the Nigeria Association of the Blind (NAB), shared that they successfully completed the required aptitude tests and were scheduled for screening in October 2025. However, on the day of the screening, they were informed to leave without any explanation.
The demonstrators communicated their grievances in a letter authored by NAB Secretary, Isaiah Daniel, and Chairperson for Skill Acquisition and Employment, Oluwakemi Odusanya. They noted that the Local Government Civil Service Commission had assured them they would receive communication, but as of now, there has been no follow-up or information provided.
The correspondence stated, "The Nigeria Association of the Blind expresses profound disappointment over the continued neglect and willful exclusion of qualified individuals with visual impairments from the ongoing recruitment in the Local Government Civil Service in Lagos State. Since participating in the recruitment exercise last October, many visually impaired applicants have fulfilled all requirements."
The letter indicated, "These candidates successfully completed online aptitude tests and were initially scheduled for physical screening—clearly demonstrating their competence. Yet, on the screening day, they were turned away and told to ‘go home’ with promises of a future contact that never materialized. Days, weeks, months have elapsed without any communication. Just silence."
The association mentioned their repeated visits to the commission, only to be informed that the Permanent Secretary was not available.
“This response has become a painful pattern—intensifying anxiety, diminishing dignity, and indicating that the prospects and lives of blind candidates are of no concern to the Local Government Civil Service Commission,” they added. They lauded the efforts of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu aimed at creating a more inclusive Lagos State, where individuals with disabilities are afforded fairer opportunities.
The letter further cited that a formal request was submitted through the Lagos State Office for Disability Affairs (LASODA) back in July 2025, detailing candidates with disabilities who took the tests. Despite the letter being registered and acknowledged, no actions were taken.
The association raised alarms that qualified blind candidates remain jobless, suffering economic hardships and emotional distress not due to any lack of capability but solely based on their visual impairment.
They asserted that this exclusion infringes upon the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act of 2018, which prohibits discrimination based on disability in employment and mandates equal opportunities and reasonable accommodations for recruitment and placement.
Furthermore, they pointed out violations of the Lagos State Special Peoples Law of 2011, which guarantees equal rights to employment for people with disabilities, alongside protection against systemic exclusion in state institutions. They also referenced the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), which Nigeria has ratified, affirming the right of persons with disabilities to work equally with others and the government's obligation to promote inclusive public employment.
“How long must competence be overlooked due to disability? How long must blind citizens continue to fight for rights that are already safeguarded by law?” they questioned.
The group appealed to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to utilize his influence to prompt the civil service commission to reconsider its perceived discriminatory practices against blind applicants in Lagos and grant immediate employment to qualified candidates with visual impairments who participated in the recent recruitment process.
They acknowledged the governor's positive efforts towards constructive inclusiveness, but cautioned that if the civil service commission does not urgently address the ongoing exclusion of blind individuals and allocate them their fair role in the employment opportunities, it would detract significantly from the progress of these initiatives.
The NAB concluded their correspondence with a call for justice and dignity, emphasizing that those with visual impairments are not seeking undue advantages but equality and the chance to live with dignity and contribute productively to society.
In response, the state Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Gbenga Omotoso, stated that there have been employments of individuals living with disabilities, including some visually impaired candidates, asserting that more candidates would be contacted in due course.
However, applicants have contested this assertion, arguing that none of them have received employment opportunities from the commission.
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