Employment Equality: Nigerian Senate seeks abolition of age restrictions
The Senate has called upon employers of labour in Nigeria to de-emphasize age requirements as a pre-condition for employment.
This resolution follows the consideration and adoption of a motion during the Wednesday plenary session. The motion, titled “Age Requirement Pre-condition for Employment in Nigeria: Urgent Need for Intervention,” was sponsored by Senator Abba Moro (PDP-Benue).
During the debate, Senator Moro pointed out that age limits as a precondition for employment violate Chapter 4, section 42(2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended). This section guarantees every citizen the right to freedom from discrimination.
Senator Moro further highlighted the International Labour Organisation (ILO) provision, which defines employment discrimination in economic terms, as a violation of human rights leading to a waste of human talent and detrimental effects on productivity and economic growth.
He emphasized that such discrimination generates socioeconomic inequalities, undermining social cohesion, solidarity, and acting as an obstacle to poverty reduction.
The senator expressed concern over the predicament of Nigerian youth who, despite having the required qualifications, knowledge, and skills, face unemployment due to exceeding the arbitrary age limits set by employers.
He illustrated the irony where a graduate could serve in the National Youth Service Corps program at the age of 30 but would be denied gainful employment afterward solely based on age, which is a flagrant breach of their fundamental rights.
Senator Moro lamented that this situation had forced many job seekers to resort to age fraud, falsifying their ages to remain within the employability age limit of the Nigerian Civil Service and other employers in the country.
As a result, the Senate passed a resolution urging the Federal Ministry of Labour, Employment, and Productivity, along with other relevant agencies, to discourage public and private employers from depriving millions of job seekers employment opportunities based solely on age.
They further called on the ministry to develop policies promoting equality of opportunity and treatment in access to employment at all levels.
NAN