Employment of Persons with Disabilities and Workplace Inclusion in Nigerian Federal Government Agencies: A Study of Abuja

This study examines the employment of persons with disabilities (PWDs) and the state of workplace inclusion in Nigerian Federal Government agencies in Abuja, North Central Nigeria. Despite Nigeria's ratification of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and provisions in the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act of 2018, systemic barriers continue to prevent PWDs from accessing and thriving in federal employment. A mixed-method descriptive survey was adopted, with data collected through questionnaires and interviews involving 110 employees with disabilities, HR managers, and diversity officers in ten federal agencies. Social Model of Disability and Inclusive HRM Theory provide the theoretical foundations. Findings reveal that federal agencies lack accessible workplace infrastructure, with most office buildings still falling short of basic accommodation standards. Recruitment processes remain exclusionary at multiple stages, including inaccessible online application portals, assessment centres without sign language interpreters, and interview panels untrained in disability-inclusive communication. The study further finds that PWDs who successfully gain employment report limited career advancement due to manager bias and colleagues' low expectations. Recommendations include mandatory inclusion training for all HR staff, retrofitting government buildings for accessibility, ring-fenced employment quotas for PWDs, and an independent disability inclusion monitoring board within the Federal Civil Service Commission. This study contributes to disability and employment literature in Nigeria and serves as a resource for policy reformers and inclusion advocates. Keywords: persons with disabilities, workplace inclusion, federal agencies, Abuja, disability employment