LABOUR RIGHTS OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES IN NIGERIA: AN INTERSECTIONAL ANALYSIS OF DISABILITY, GENDER, AND EMPLOYMENT

Abstract

This study undertakes an intersectional analysis of the labour rights of persons with disabilities in Nigeria, with a focus on the intersections of disability, gender, and employment. It highlights the significant barriers faced by persons with disabilities in accessing employment opportunities in Nigeria, despite the existence of international and national laws aimed at promoting their rights. The purpose of this study is to examine the labour rights of persons with disabilities in Nigeria, with a view to identifying the challenges and opportunities presented by existing laws and policies. Using doctrinal approach, which recognizes the multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination faced by persons with disabilities, this study explores the ways in which disability, gender, and employment intersect to shape the labour rights of persons with disabilities in Nigeria. The findings of this study reveal significant gaps in the existing legal framework governing the labour rights of persons with disabilities in Nigeria, including inadequate protection against discrimination, lack of accessibility, and limited access to employment opportunities. The study also highlights the ways in which gender intersects with disability to exacerbate the labour rights challenges faced by women with disabilities in Nigeria. This study concludes that the labour rights of persons with disabilities in Nigeria require urgent attention, and that an intersectional approach is necessary to address the multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination faced by persons with disabilities. The study recommends the enactment of comprehensive anti-discrimination legislation, the implementation of accessibility standards, and the promotion of inclusive employment practices to ensure the protection and promotion of the labour rights of persons with disabilities in Nigeria.