The House of Representatives has stated it’s backing for the removal of the age cap for employment into Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) as well as all federal establishments
According to the lawmakers, there is an urgent need to reconsider the 30 years- cap based on which thousands of otherwise eligible candidates are disqualified for employment.
The call for a change in policy from the House, followed the adoption of a motion raised under matters of urgent public importance by Rep. Babajimi Benson (Lagos-APC) during plenary on Wednesday.
In his lead debate on the notion, Benson, the member representing Ikorodu Federal Constituency of Lagos State, stressed the need to review the age specification for the vacancies announced by Nigerian Police Force, Federal Road Safety Corps, Nigerian Prison Service, Fire Service, Standard Organisation of Nigeria and some other federal government agencies.
He explained that most vacancies in government establishments require that applicants must not be more than 30 years as at the time of applying for the job.
He argued that with the unpredictably surrounding the year of graduation in the heavily subscribed public higher institutions in the country, it is difficult to determine and plan the age of graduation of students.
According to him, the discrimination of applicants on the basis of age is a breach of the fundamental human rights of citizens as contained in Chapter IV of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria.
When the motion was put up for voice by SpeakerYakubu Dogara, who presided over plenary it was unanimously adopted.
This is even as the House resolved that all MDAs should open their portal for qualified persons to apply.
The Speaker further mandated the House Committees of Labour, Employment and Publicity and National Planning and Economic Development to review the employability criteria of all MDAs to ensure Justice on this matter.
The House Committee on Legislative Compliance was also directed to ensure compliance to the resolution.
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