House of Representatives Abolish Age Limit for Job Seekers

• House of Representatives Abolish Age Limit for Job Seekers

Nigeria’s House of Representatives has abolished age limit for job seekers in Federal Government Ministries, Agencies and Departments (MDAs).

This was after the passaged of a “Bill for an Act to Eradicate the Age Discrimination against Job seekers in Federal Government Agencies,” sponsored by Sergius Ogun (APC, Edo) and Babajimi Benson (APC, Lagos).

The bill was unanimously adopted by the lawmakers and Speaker Yakubu Dogara.

Ogun, who moved the motion for the bill, said the new bill will ensure no Nigerian job seeker is disqualified from government establishment because of age despite his or her ability.

“It is a key responsibility of we parliamentarians, as representatives of the people, to ensure that no Nigerian job seeker is discriminated against with regard to age in employment opportunities in Federal Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs),” Ogun submitted.

He further stated that the move would ensure that the fundamental human rights of job seekers are protected and substantially reduce the unemployment rate of graduates.

The lawmaker said the persistent strikes by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has made it almost impossible for Nigerian university students to graduate within a stipulated time, hence the necessity of the bill.