The House of Representatives has approved 45 years and below as the age benchmark for prospective job seekers into Federal Ministries establishments.
The military, police and other paramilitary organisations are also included in the age bracket.
This followed the passage of a report on the Bill for an Act to prohibit discrimination against job seekers in Federal government agencies (eradication) and allied matters Act presented by Edward Pwajok (PDP, Plateau), Chain House Committee on Rules and Business.
While passing report at the Committee of the Whole, chaired by Deputy speaker Lasun Yussuff, the lawmakers expressed deep concern about the seemingly intractable unemployment crisis facing the country.
The lawmakers were also disturbed by the extant policy, whereby most organisations especially military and security agencies always fix a maximum of 30 years for applicants seeking employment as senior officers.
On the need to pass the bill, the lawmakers explained that it seeks to eradicate the age barriers on employment into Federal government agencies and ensure that no citizen of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is deprived of employment into Federal government establishments on the basis of age.
Details showed that Section 3 (1) and (2) of the bill provides that “no citizen of the Federal Republic of Nigeria shall be deprived of employment into any of the agencies of the federal government, on grounds that he /she is above thirty (30) years of age.
“That any citizen of Nigeria that is thirty (30) years and above but not above forty-five (45) years, shall be entitled to gainful employment within any of the agencies of the federal government of Nigeria.
Also, Section 3 (3) provides “that the provisions of the above subsections shall be subject to the provisions of the laws establishing security agencies, including the Armed Forces and other paramilitary agencies with regards to age for enlistment in the relevant security agencies”
Furthermore, Section 3 (4) that “where a person to be employed into any of the Federal government’s agencies is found to be qualified but of an age that is above the age limit specified for such employment, the abilities and/or qualification of such person shall have recourse to and his age shall not operate as a disqualification”.
The report was unanimously passed after a voice vote.
The military, police and other paramilitary organisations are also included in the age bracket.
This followed the passage of a report on the Bill for an Act to prohibit discrimination against job seekers in Federal government agencies (eradication) and allied matters Act presented by Edward Pwajok (PDP, Plateau), Chain House Committee on Rules and Business.
While passing report at the Committee of the Whole, chaired by Deputy speaker Lasun Yussuff, the lawmakers expressed deep concern about the seemingly intractable unemployment crisis facing the country.
On the need to pass the bill, the lawmakers explained that it seeks to eradicate the age barriers on employment into Federal government agencies and ensure that no citizen of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is deprived of employment into Federal government establishments on the basis of age.
Details showed that Section 3 (1) and (2) of the bill provides that “no citizen of the Federal Republic of Nigeria shall be deprived of employment into any of the agencies of the federal government, on grounds that he /she is above thirty (30) years of age.
“That any citizen of Nigeria that is thirty (30) years and above but not above forty-five (45) years, shall be entitled to gainful employment within any of the agencies of the federal government of Nigeria.
Also, Section 3 (3) provides “that the provisions of the above subsections shall be subject to the provisions of the laws establishing security agencies, including the Armed Forces and other paramilitary agencies with regards to age for enlistment in the relevant security agencies”
Furthermore, Section 3 (4) that “where a person to be employed into any of the Federal government’s agencies is found to be qualified but of an age that is above the age limit specified for such employment, the abilities and/or qualification of such person shall have recourse to and his age shall not operate as a disqualification”.
The report was unanimously passed after a voice vote.
