A group of visually-impaired job applicants has accused the Lagos State Local Government Civil Service Commission of systematically excluding qualified candidates from its ongoing recruitment exercise.
The affected applicants, organized under the Lagos chapter of the Nigeria Association of the Blind (NAB), said they successfully sat for and passed the online aptitude tests and were scheduled for physical screening in October 2025.
However, they claim they were turned away on the screening day and have not received any follow-up communication since.
In a letter signed by NAB Secretary Isaiah Daniel and Chairperson of the Skill Acquisition and Employment Committee, Oluwakemi Odusanya, the group lamented the “continued neglect and deliberate sidelining” of qualified visually-impaired applicants.
“These applicants successfully completed the online aptitude tests, met all requirements, and were scheduled for the initial screening stage—proving their competence and capacity.
On the day of their physical screening, they were turned back and assured they would be contacted later. Months have passed with no call, no email, no explanation—only silence,” the letter stated.
The association said repeated visits to the commission yielded only the explanation that the Permanent Secretary was ‘not on seat’, a refrain they described as “painful,” eroding their dignity and deepening uncertainty about their futures.
NAB stressed that the alleged exclusion violates the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act, 2018, the Lagos State Special Peoples Law, 2011, and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, ratified by Nigeria.
These legal frameworks guarantee persons with disabilities the right to employment and protection against discrimination.
The group called on Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to intervene, urging the civil service commission to review its “discriminatory disposition” and ensure immediate employment for all qualified visually-impaired applicants.
“Persons with visual impairment are not asking for shortcuts. We are asking for fairness. We are asking to work, contribute, and live with dignity,” NAB added.
Responding, Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso, said persons with disabilities, including visually-impaired applicants, have been employed and that more candidates would be contacted.
He, however, cautioned that not all applicants could be employed.
The affected applicants rejected the claim, insisting none of them had been offered employment.
As Lagos State pushes for inclusivity in public service employment, the standoff highlights the challenges faced by persons with disabilities seeking equal opportunity in government recruitment.
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