The Senate has taken a significant step towards promoting equal employment opportunities by calling on employers to eliminate age requirements as a pre-condition for hiring. This resolution was reached during a plenary session on Wednesday and was prompted by a motion titled “Age Requirement Pre-condition for Employment in Nigeria, Urgent Need for Intervention,” which was sponsored by Sen. Abba Moro from the PDP-Benue.
In his impassioned speech during the debate, Sen. Moro argued that age limits as a basis for employment contravene Chapter 4, section 42(2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), which guarantees every citizen the right to freedom from discrimination.
The International Labour Organisation (ILO) also defines employment discrimination in economic terms, highlighting that it not only violates human rights but also leads to a waste of human talent and negatively impacts productivity and economic growth. Furthermore, such discrimination perpetuates socioeconomic inequalities, undermines social cohesion, and hinders poverty reduction efforts.
Sen. Moro pointed out the irony that a Nigerian graduate could serve in the National Youth Service Corps program at the age of 30 but be unable to secure gainful employment afterward solely due to surpassing the arbitrary age limit. This situation results in the flagrant violation of their fundamental rights.
The current predicament forces many job seekers to resort to age fraud, falsifying their ages to fit within the employability age limit set by the Nigerian Civil Service and other employers across the country.
In response to these concerns, the Senate passed a resolution urging the Federal Ministry of Labour, Employment, and Productivity, along with other relevant agencies, to discourage and restrict public and private employers from depriving millions of job seekers of employment opportunities simply because they do not meet age requirements.
The Senate further called upon the Ministry to promptly develop policies promoting equality of opportunity and fair treatment in employment at all levels. By taking this stance, the Senate aims to create a more inclusive and equitable job market, allowing qualified and skilled individuals to contribute to the nation’s progress, regardless of their age.
