The Senate has asked employers in the country to relax age requirement as pre-condition for employment. The upper legislative chamber also implored the Federal Ministry of Labour, Employment and Productivity and other relevant agencies to discourage public and private employers from depriving millions of job seekers opportunities for not meeting age requirement.
 
Besides, the ministry was mandated to immediately draw up policies that relate to equality of opportunity and treatment in access to employment at all levels.
 
This followed a motion titled, “Age Requirement Pre-condition for Employment in Nigeria, Urgent Need for Intervention,” sponsored by Abba Moro, who represents Benue South Senatorial District.
 
According to the lawmaker, age limit or pre-condition for employment violates Chapter 4, Section 42 (2) of Nigeria’s Constitution, which guarantees every citizen the right to freedom from discrimination.
 
Moro said the provision of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) defines employment discrimination in economic terms as a violation of human rights that entails a waste of human talents with detrimental effects on productivity and economic growth.

The provision, according to him, generates socio-economic inequality that undermines social cohesion and solidarity.  He said: “It is pathetic that a graduate in Nigeria who could not get a job upon graduation and decided to go back to school with the hope that a higher qualification, vis-a- vis a second or masters degree could give him a better employment opportunity is thrown into a career paradox when upon completion of his second degree, he comes out to find that he is now above the age of employment and therefore not employable by the sole reason of his age.”
 
“It is ironical that a graduate in this country can serve in the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) programme at age 30 but cannot be gainfully employed on the fact that he/she is now above 30 years.”

a situation that is a flagrant breach of his fundamental rights.

“The circumstances described in the foregoing present the predicament of the Nigerian youths who has the requisite qualification, knowledge, skills and is ready to work but disqualified or excluded on the sole and unjustifiable ground that he/she is above the age limit by reason of his/her birth.”
 
Moro said this sad situation had led many to commit age fraud by going all out to falsify their age to remain within the age limit of employability to the civil service, and all other employers in the country.