President Muhammadu Buhari gas been asked by the Senate to direct the Ministry of Labour and Productivity to initiate a board that will review the age limits for job seekers in the country to allow competent applicants to be employed.

The motion for this amendment was moved by Senator Ibrahim Gbogir.

He said, “Many individuals resort to falsifying their age all in a bid to fall within the required age limit for them to be gainfully employed.

Senator Ibrahim Gobir who moved the motion.

“This development, where a person believes he is unemployable, can lead them to embracing criminal activities and further increase the growing crime rate and insecurity in the country.”

Gobir brought to light Orders 42 and 52 of the Senate Standing Rules, and noted that requirement of Ministries, Departments and Agencies and other private bodies, which set age barriers, “inadvertently excludes and marginalises skilful and competent prospective applicants from participating in such exercises.”
In his contribution, Senator Bala Na’Allah drew the attention of the upper chamber to the Federal Government’s embargo on employment over 13 years ago.
“I think in the review, that has to be taken into account, and therefore, the age limit can now be raised in addition to the established age. That should be the legal verdict for the review,” Na’Allah said.

Ahmad Lawan, Senate President.

The Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, also condemned the discrimination against job seekers.
He said, “It is not through a fault of theirs that people are discriminated against. They’ll tell you only 30 years’ limit; meanwhile, someone graduated 10 years ago.”