Examining Legal Protections for Persons with Disabilities in the Workplace: Evidence from Taraba State

Persons with disabilities constitute a significant proportion of Nigeria's workforce yet remain among the most economically marginalised groups, facing entrenched discrimination, physical exclusion, and inadequate legal protection in the labour market. Taraba State, in the North East geopolitical zone, presents a context in which limited institutional infrastructure and social stigma compound the challenges faced by disabled workers. This research examines the legal protections available to persons with disabilities in the workplace in Taraba State, focusing on the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act of 2019, the Labour Act, and relevant state legislation. A qualitative descriptive methodology was employed, with data gathered through interviews with disability rights advocates, employers, and workers with disabilities in Jalingo and Wukari. Secondary sources include Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs publications, civil society reports, and academic literature from 2019 to 2024. The findings reveal poor employer awareness of the 2019 Act's obligations, absence of accessible workplace infrastructure, and near-total absence of enforcement activity by the relevant government agency. Few disabled workers in Taraba State are aware of their legal rights or the mechanisms available for redress. Recommendations include targeted employer sensitisation campaigns, establishment of a disability employment compliance unit within the state labour ministry, and legal aid support for disabled workers. This research makes a practical contribution to disability law and labour rights scholarship in North East Nigeria. Keywords: disability rights, workplace discrimination, Taraba State, DAPDA 2019, labour law.