The aggrieved consulate contract staff in New York picked holes in a circular addressed to All locally-Recruited staff with Ref. No: 100/ADM/312/IV, dated August 23, 2022, and signed by the head of Chancery, Y. I. Abd.
Some contract staff members at the Nigerian Consulate in New York, United States of America are protesting against the 60-year age limit for locally recruited staff.
The aggrieved consulate contract staff in New York picked holes in a circular addressed to All locally-Recruited staff with Ref. No: 100/ADM/312/IV, dated August 23, 2022, and signed by the head of Chancery, Y. I. Abd.
The circular titled: "IMPLEMENTATION OF HEADQUARTERS DIRECTIVE ON AGE LIMIT FOR LOCALLY-RECRUITED STAFF IN NIGERIAN MISSIONS," categorically stated that 60 years age limit must be abided by in the employment of Locally-Recruited Staff (LRS) as contained in Public Service Rules (PSR) and applicable extant regulations guiding employment in Nigerian Civil Service.
It partly read: "Accordingly, applications for fresh and renewal of contracts of employment with the Consulate General after the expiration of the existing contract would not be considered if the applicants would be fifty-eight (58) years or over by 3rd June 2023. For clarity, all applicants that were born before 3rd June 1965 are not eligible for employment in the Consulate.
"In light of the above, all LRSs that would be affected by the implementation of this directive from headquarters are put on notice that they would not be considered for renewal of contracts of employment in the 2023 exercise."
The protesting workers argued that the recruitment exercise that is currently ongoing violates the rules of the Vienna Convention and the rules of the host country, which is the U.S.
They noted that U.S. law forbids discrimination against people based on their color, age, and sex, warning that those who gave such instruction could be sued for age discrimination at work.
One of the protesters told SaharaReporters that they are the permanent staff that do all the work in the mission for the smooth running of the office.
"At the Consulate, we are the first contact with the public coming into the office for services, documentation, verifications, authentications, drafting letters, and many others.
"As per the rules of the Vienna Convention you abide by the rules of your host country.
"America as a host country has a law that says you can’t discriminate against people based on their color, age, sex.
"Any instructor can be sued for age discrimination at work as it’s stated in the letter that it came from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs," the source said, adding that "such a letter was never shown to us nor was a copy ever given to us."
They lambasted the Consul General, Peter Egopija, accusing him of sitting as 'God and feeling untouchable,' while working against the federal government of Nigeria as a representative, "it’s a shame".
They maintained that "the other missions in other countries are not doing the same thing."