By Friday Idachaba, Lokoja
The Kogi NGOs Network (KONGONET) has urged the Kogi State Government to prioritize dialogue and mediation in addressing the brewing crisis between the Association of Persons Living with Disabilities (PWDs) and the Confluence University of Science and Technology (CUSTECH), Osara.
In a statement issued Thursday in Lokoja, KONGONET Chairperson, Hamza Aliyu, expressed the Network’s deep concern over what it described as an “unfolding crisis” stemming from alleged marginalization of PWDs in employment opportunities at the state-owned university.
Aliyu said the dispute revolves around claims of exclusion and non-compliance with existing disability inclusion laws—allegations which, he warned, threaten both the dignity of citizens and the credibility of governance in the state.
Citing the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act, 2018, and the Kogi State Disability Rights Law, Aliyu emphasized that both legal frameworks guarantee equal opportunities and prohibit discrimination in employment, education, and public services.
“The continued neglect of these provisions undermines the dignity of citizens and erodes public trust in governance,” he said.
Aliyu, who also heads the Initiative for Grassroots Advancement in Nigeria (INGRA), criticized the handling of the matter, accusing authorities of disregarding established disability rights frameworks. He urged the state government to reaffirm its commitment to implementing disability rights laws and to create a transparent recruitment policy that accommodates PWDs.
He further recommended strengthening platforms for sustained engagement between government institutions and disability advocacy groups to prevent similar disputes in the future.
“KONGONET believes peaceful dialogue, mutual respect, and adherence to the rule of law remain the cornerstones of resolving this crisis. We call on all stakeholders—especially PWD leaders and state authorities—to embrace mediation and uphold the principles of inclusivity and justice enshrined in our laws,” Aliyu added.
Earlier, the Kogi State Government, through its Commissioner for Information and Communications, dismissed the PWDs’ protest at CUSTECH as baseless, maintaining that the allegations of marginalization were unfounded.