Analytical Assessment of the Research Gap in Disability-Disaggregated Social Statistics in Nigeria

Disability-disaggregated social statistics are essential for monitoring the inclusion of persons with disabilities in development programmes, yet this analytical dimension is largely absent from Nigeria's routine statistical systems. This study assessed the research gap in disability-disaggregated social statistics in Nigeria through systematic review and original analysis. A systematic scoping review of nine databases identified 37 publications from 2019 to 2024 addressing disability data in Nigerian social statistics, of which only 12 produced national or state-level prevalence estimates and fewer than 5 disaggregated other social indicators by disability status. Original analysis applied the Washington Group Short Set to a random subsample of 1,800 households from three NBS General Household Survey data files, generating disability-disaggregated education, employment, and healthcare indicators for comparison with non-disabled populations. Results confirmed significant deprivation gaps: school completion at secondary level was 38.2 percent for persons with disability versus 61.7 percent for non-disabled persons. Formal employment was 18.4 percent versus 47.3 percent. Healthcare utilisation was 43.2 percent versus 62.1 percent. The study identifies three research gaps: absent routine Washington Group instrument integration in NBS household surveys, no national disability statistics coordination mechanism, and the absence of intersectional disability analysis by gender and zone. Recommendations include NBS adopting the Washington Group Short Set as a standard survey module and publishing annual disability-disaggregated social indicators.

Keywords: disability statistics, social disaggregation, Washington Group, Nigeria, disability inclusion