Employment Age Limit Worries Lawmaker

A federal lawmaker, Rep. Saheed Fijabi, says that placing age barrier above competence in employment matters is inimical to the growth of the country.

In an interview with the newsmen in Abuja recently, Fijabi noted that the House of Representatives was currently considering a bill that would stop age discrimination in employment in the country.

The lawmaker, who is a member of the House Committee on Youth Development, said that age should not be an impediment to getting a job.

Employers should be more concerned about skill and competence rather than age, he said, noting that the House had passed a motion criticising employers who placed age limit on graduates before they could be offered certain jobs.

“We are bringing up a bill that will stop age barrier because age should not be the requirement employers should be looking for before a graduate can be employed; it should rather be more of skill and competence.”

Fijabi said that his foray at the National Assembly was to ensure that the interest of the youth was protected and promised to ensure that they were not let down.

“As you can see I am also a youth, so I represent their interest at the National Assembly. I know what it is to be jobless because I have been there too.

“Being a youth, I will ensure that the interest of the youth is taken into consideration through other means of empowerment rather than rely solely on government job.”

The lawmaker said the National Assembly would ensure that the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) was repositioned, adding that rather than scrap the scheme it should be strengthened to meet the yearning of Nigerians.