Nigerian Senate to review age restrictions, work experience plaguing unemployed youths
Unemployed youths in Nigeria have a glimmer of hope, as the Senate through a series of tweets today, announced that it has moved a motion to rid the country’s employment system of unfavourable job requirements.
Age bracket, years of experience are some of the requirements that deny most unemployed Nigerians the opportunity to get jobs, but a strong motion by Senator Duro Faseyi (PDP-Ekiti) on Tuesday sees the lawmakers ready to review the policy.
Faseyi had, in his speech, lamented the high rate of unemployment in the country and attributed it to the high rate of crimes, demanding that President of the Federal Republic, Muhammadu Buhari declare a state of emergency on the biting crisis.
“The economic recession which has hit the country would integrally multiply the level of unemployment in the country as more companies have started considering downsizing in order to cut cost and optimise profit,” he said.
Faseyi’s motion was supported by Sen. Sabi Abdullahi (APC-Niger), who chimed that there is no better time than now to seek a redress of the policy guiding employment in the country.
“The policy intent of government with respect to unemployment is not unambiguous because government has accepted that the unemployment rate is something to worry about,” Abdullahi said during the plenary which was presided over by the Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu.
According to News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the Senate resolved to summon Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, to give insights into government’s roadmap towards tackling unemployment in the country.
Senate moves to the Motion on the Intolerable Upswing of Unemployment in Nigeria by Senator Duro Faseyi. (Ekiti North)
— Nigerian Senate (@NGRSenate) November 8, 2016
Senator Faseyi notes with serious concern the scandalous and incredible level of unemployment in the country according to the NBStatistics.
— Nigerian Senate (@NGRSenate) November 8, 2016
Senator Faseyi raises the alarm that the number of unemployed and underemployed rose from 24.4Million to 26.06Million in 2016 2nd Quarter.
— Nigerian Senate (@NGRSenate) November 8, 2016
@ngrsenate such limit is more or less temptative, not just a deprivative factor against the minor, but a snare to victimization,
— just easylife (@just_easylife) November 8, 2016
Senator Urhoghide speaks on the harm that age & cognate requirements hv on eligible job applicants even as Federal Character isnt followed.
— Nigerian Senate (@NGRSenate) November 8, 2016
Senators Clifford Ordia and @stellaoduah contribute on the motion. They support the removal of age and experience barriers for employment.
— Nigerian Senate (@NGRSenate) November 8, 2016
Senator Biodun Olujimi also speaks. She laments the unfair practices by Govt MDAs and Private Firms to push out eligible applicants.
— Nigerian Senate (@NGRSenate) November 8, 2016
Senator @shehusani says different sets of rules are used for the rich and influential on one side and the poor on the other side.
— Nigerian Senate (@NGRSenate) November 8, 2016
Senator @shehusani adds that sometimes we use Federal Character; sometimes Catchment with different requirements and modes.
— Nigerian Senate (@NGRSenate) November 8, 2016
Senate now resolves to mandate MDAs to de-emphasize age bracket requirements for recruitment of first time applicants.
— Nigerian Senate (@NGRSenate) November 8, 2016
DSP Ike Ekweremadu comments that there is the need for transparency and fairness to fill the few employment opportunities available.
— Nigerian Senate (@NGRSenate) November 8, 2016
In August, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) said the country’s unemployment rate has risen from 12.1 per cent in the first quarter of this year to 13.3 per cent as at the end of the second quarter.
