The House of Representatives has launched investigations into two pressing issues affecting Nigeria: allegations of age falsification in the civil service and the unethical harvesting and sale of human eggs.
During Thursday’s plenary, Rep. Yusuf Ahmed Badau moved a motion highlighting how age falsification within the civil service is aggravating Nigeria’s unemployment crisis. Citing a National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) report showing a 5.3% rise in unemployment in late 2024, Badau stressed the urgency of addressing this issue to create job opportunities for young graduates.
The House adopted the motion and tasked its committees on Public Service Matters, Special Duties, Federal Character, and National Planning and Economic Development to summon the Head of Service of the Federation. These committees will verify the ages of civil servants across Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) and report back within six weeks.
Separately, the House addressed concerns over the illegal harvesting and sale of human eggs, a practice fueled by rising infertility rates and lax regulation in the reproductive health sector. Rep. Kwamoti Bitrus La’ori, who brought the motion, pointed out that vulnerable women, including low-income earners and students, are being lured into unsafe donation schemes with promises of monetary rewards, often without adequate medical guidance or awareness of potential health risks.
La’ori linked the proliferation of such exploitative practices to Nigeria’s economic challenges and the absence of robust reproductive health legislation. The House directed its Committee on Healthcare Services to investigate these unethical practices and recommend preventive measures within four weeks.
Both investigations underline the lawmakers’ commitment to tackling systemic issues affecting Nigeria’s workforce and public health.
