Affidavit of Age (Nigeria)
AFFIDAVIT OF AGE
Evidence Act 2011 | Oaths Act Cap O1 LFN 2004 | National Population Commission Act Cap N30 LFN 2004 | Criminal Code Act Cap C38 LFN 2004
[Court Or Office]
I, [Deponent Name], [Deponent Occupation], of [Deponent Address], NIN: [Deponent NIN], do hereby make oath and state as follows:
DEPOSITIONS
1. That I am the deponent named above and I make this affidavit voluntarily from my own personal knowledge.
2. That I was born on [Declared DOB] at [Place Of Birth] and am currently [Declared Age] years of age.
3. That I do not have a birth certificate for the following reason: [Reason No Birth Cert].
4. That the date of birth declared in this affidavit ([Declared DOB]) is my true and correct date of birth to the best of my knowledge and belief.
5. That the following supporting documents are attached to corroborate my declared date of birth: [Supporting Documents].
6. That I make this affidavit for the following purpose: [Purpose Of Affidavit].
I make this affidavit in good faith and in accordance with the Oaths Act Cap O1 LFN 2004. I understand that making a false affidavit is perjury under the Criminal Code Act Cap C38 LFN 2004, punishable by imprisonment.
Deponent's Signature: ___________________________ Date: [Deposition Date]
[Deponent Name]
[Swearing Method] before me this [Deposition Date] at [Court Or Office].
Commissioner for Oaths / Notary Public: ___________________________
Name: ___________________________ Stamp: ___________________________
Deponent
________________
Signature
Commissioner for Oaths / Notary Public
________________
Signature
What Is a Affidavit of Age (Nigeria)?
An Affidavit of Age in Nigeria confirms specified facts through a signed declaration sworn before a commissioner for oaths or notary.
The legal basis for the Affidavit of Age is established by the Oaths Act Cap O1 LFN 2004 and the Evidence Act 2011. The deponent swears before a Commissioner for Oaths — a Legal Practitioner appointed by the Chief Judge of the relevant state under the Oaths Act — and assumes criminal liability for perjury under the Criminal Code Act Cap C38 LFN 2004 (applicable in southern states) or the Penal Code (applicable in northern states) if the age declared is known to be false.
The widespread need for Affidavits of Age in Nigeria reflects both historical gaps in birth registration and persistent discrepancies in official records. The Births, Deaths etc. (Compulsory Registration) Act Cap B20 LFN 2004 requires registration of births, but compliance has historically been uneven — particularly in rural areas and for persons born before the 1980s. The National Population Commission (NPC), which issues birth certificates under the National Population Commission Act Cap N30 LFN 2004, acknowledges that a significant proportion of the Nigerian population was born before systematic birth registration. The Affidavit of Age fills this evidentiary gap for administrative, employment, pension, and educational purposes.
The Federal Civil Service Commission (FCSC), state civil service commissions, the National Pension Commission (PenCom) under the Pension Reform Act 2014, the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) under the NIMC Act 2007, the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), and the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Directorate all have procedures under which a properly sworn Affidavit of Age, supported by corroborating evidence, is accepted as proof of age.
The legal framework governing the Affidavit of Age (Nigeria) in Nigeria draws on several key statutes and regulatory bodies. Under Nigerian law, the Companies and Allied Matters Act 2020 (CAMA) regulates corporate entities through the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC). The Labour Act (Cap L1 LFN 2004) and the National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN) govern employment disputes. The Nigeria Data Protection Regulation (NDPR) 2019 and the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) protect personal data. The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) administers tax obligations under the Companies Income Tax Act. The Federal High Court and state High Courts have jurisdiction over civil matters. Parties executing a Affidavit of Age (Nigeria) in Nigeria should confirm the document reflects current law, including any amendments enacted since the original drafting date. The Contract Law (received English common law) sets the foundational requirements.
When Do You Need a Affidavit of Age (Nigeria)?
A Nigeria Affidavit of Age is needed whenever a person's date of birth is not documented in a birth certificate, when there is a discrepancy between dates of birth recorded in different official documents, or when an institution requires a formal sworn age declaration.
When a teacher, nurse, or civil servant employed in the Nigerian public service has different dates of birth recorded in their employment records and their NIN, and the discrepancy affects their retirement date under PenCom regulations or their terminal benefits under the Pension Reform Act 2014, an Affidavit of Age supported by school records and hospital documents provides the basis for administrative correction by the FCSC or the Pension Fund Administrator.
When a student applying through JAMB for university admission has their age recorded differently on their WAEC certificate and their birth certificate (or has no birth certificate), the university admissions office may require an Affidavit of Age to satisfy the minimum age requirement for the course.
When a person's NIN with NIMC shows a date of birth that differs from their bank's BVN record (both maintained by the CBN's NIBSS system), and the discrepancy is causing issues with account verification or SIM card reregistration under NCC directives, an Affidavit of Age is used to support the NIMC correction application.
When an employee is approaching retirement age under their employer's pension scheme and there is a dispute about whether the correct retirement date has been computed, an Affidavit of Age — supported by the earliest available documentary evidence of date of birth — establishes the correct age for PenCom and NSITF purposes.
When a person born outside a hospital in a rural area of Nigeria has no birth certificate, hospital records, or school certificate that records their date of birth, an Affidavit of Age supported by a parental declaration (from the parent who has knowledge of the birth) and any other available corroborating evidence provides the best available formal record.
Parties in Nigeria should prepare a Affidavit of Age (Nigeria) proactively rather than waiting for a dispute to arise. Courts interpret agreements based on the written terms rather than oral representations. Under Nigerian law, the Companies and Allied Matters Act 2020 (CAMA) regulates corporate entities through the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC). The Labour Act (Cap L1 LFN 2004) and the National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN) govern employment disputes. The Nigeria Data Protection Regulation (NDPR) 2019 and the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) protect personal data. The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) administers tax obligations under the Companies Income Tax Act. The Federal High Court and state High Courts have jurisdiction over civil matters. Where the transaction involves regulated activities, prior approval from the relevant authority may be required before execution.
What to Include in Your Affidavit of Age (Nigeria)
A Nigeria Affidavit of Age must contain the following elements to be valid and accepted by relevant institutions.
Deponent's full identity: The deponent's full current legal name, current residential address, occupation, nationality, and state of origin. The deponent's NIN (National Identification Number) should be stated if available, to assist institutions in matching the affidavit to the deponent's records.
Declaration of date of birth: A precise statement of the deponent's full date of birth in DD/MM/YYYY format — day, month, and year. The place of birth (hospital, town, local government area, and state) should also be stated if known.
Explanation of purpose: A statement of the specific purpose for which the affidavit is being made — for example, "for the purpose of updating my date of birth in my NIN record with the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC)" or "for the purpose of correcting my date of birth in my employment record with [employer name]".
Explanation of discrepancy (if applicable): Where the affidavit is being made to resolve a discrepancy between different documents, a clear explanation of the discrepancy — the date of birth as recorded in Document A versus Document B — and a declaration of which is the correct date.
Reason for absence of birth certificate (if applicable): Where the deponent does not have a birth certificate, a brief explanation — for example, that the deponent was born before birth registration was compulsory in the relevant state, or that the birth certificate was never obtained.
Corroborating evidence reference: A reference to any corroborating documents exhibited to or presented with the affidavit — such as a primary school leaving certificate, a hospital birth record, or an immunisation card — marked as exhibits and identified in the body of the affidavit.
Declaration of truth and consequences: A statement that the deponent understands the legal consequences of making a false affidavit, that the declared date of birth is true to the best of their knowledge and belief, and that the deponent has not previously made any contradictory declaration about their date of birth in any other legal or administrative proceeding.
Jurat: Signed by the deponent and witnessed by the Commissioner for Oaths with their stamp, name, designation, and the date and location of swearing.
Additional compliance elements for a Affidavit of Age (Nigeria) used in Nigeria include: Under Nigerian law, the Companies and Allied Matters Act 2020 (CAMA) regulates corporate entities through the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC). The Labour Act (Cap L1 LFN 2004) and the National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN) govern employment disputes. The Nigeria Data Protection Regulation (NDPR) 2019 and the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) protect personal data. The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) administers tax obligations under the Companies Income Tax Act. The Federal High Court and state High Courts have jurisdiction over civil matters. Forms-legal.com provides this template as a starting point for Nigeria-compliant documentation.
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Reference this free template in an article, syllabus, or research note:
Forms Legal. (2026). Affidavit of Age (Nigeria) (Nigeria) [Legal document template]. Forms Legal. https://forms-legal.com/nigeria/personal/legal-declarations/affidavit-of-age-nigeria
"Affidavit of Age (Nigeria) (Nigeria)." Forms Legal, 2026, https://forms-legal.com/nigeria/personal/legal-declarations/affidavit-of-age-nigeria.
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author = {{Forms Legal}},
title = {Affidavit of Age (Nigeria) (Nigeria)},
year = {2026},
howpublished = {\url{https://forms-legal.com/nigeria/personal/legal-declarations/affidavit-of-age-nigeria}},
note = {Free legal document template. Based on Contract Law (received English common law)}
}Frequently Asked Questions
An Affidavit of Age is required in Nigeria in several common situations where a person's date of birth is not supported by a birth certificate, or where there is a discrepancy between the date of birth recorded in different official documents. The most common scenarios include: (1) Employment in the Nigerian federal or state public service, where the Federal Civil Service Commission (FCSC) and state civil service commissions require proof of age for appointment and retirement eligibility, and where birth certificates are frequently unavailable for persons born before birth registration became widely practised; (2) NYSC (National Youth Service Corps) registration, where the NYSC Directorate may require an age declaration where a candidate's age on their university records differs from other identity documents; (3) JAMB and university admission, where an age declaration is sometimes required to satisfy minimum age requirements for tertiary admission; (4) Pension entitlements under the Contributory Pension Scheme administered by the National Pension Commission (PenCom), where a worker's retirement date depends on their date of birth and discrepancies in records can delay retirement benefits; (5) NIMC (National Identity Management Commission) NIN enrolment corrections where date of birth was incorrectly captured; (6) Legal proceedings including matrimonial causes before the High Court Family Division, where the age of a party to a marriage is legally relevant; and (7) International travel documentation where date of birth on a passport must be consistent with identity documents. An Affidavit of Age is a formal declaration under oath, with criminal penalties for false statements under the Criminal Code Act Cap C38 LFN 2004.
In many Nigerian administrative contexts, an Affidavit of Age is accepted as a substitute for or supplement to a birth certificate. The Births, Deaths etc. (Compulsory Registration) Act Cap B20 LFN 2004 and the National Population Commission Act Cap N30 LFN 2004 establish the legal framework for birth registration in Nigeria, but historical birth registration rates have been low, and many Nigerian adults — particularly those born in rural areas before the 1980s — do not have birth certificates. Nigerian institutions have therefore developed administrative acceptance of sworn age declarations. The Federal Civil Service Commission (FCSC) accepts Affidavits of Age for employees who do not have birth certificates, alongside other supporting evidence such as primary school leaving certificates and hospital records. The National Pension Commission (PenCom) guidelines accept affidavits for date of birth declarations in pension records where no birth certificate is available. NIMC accepts affidavits for NIN date of birth corrections. Banks and financial institutions regulated by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) may accept affidavits as secondary supporting documentation. However, an Affidavit of Age is not equivalent to a birth certificate for all purposes. The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) and university admissions offices generally prefer birth certificates where available.
The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has a specific process for correcting errors in NIN records, including date of birth corrections, which involves submitting an Affidavit of Age together with other specified supporting documents at a NIMC enrolment centre. To correct a date of birth on a NIN record, the applicant must complete the NIMC modification form (Form NIN-009B or the current equivalent), submit a sworn Affidavit of Age declaring the correct date of birth and explaining the discrepancy, and provide supporting documentary evidence — at minimum two of: a birth certificate (if available), a primary school leaving certificate showing the correct date of birth, a hospital birth record or immunisation card, a baptism certificate (for Christians), a school age certificate from the first school attended, or an employer's declaration. NIMC officers at the enrolment centre assess the supporting evidence before approving the correction. The correction process may take several weeks or months at busy enrolment centres. Where the discrepancy in the date of birth has cascaded into BVN records (held by the Central Bank of Nigeria's Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS)) and SIM card registration records (held under the NCC SIM Card Registration framework), the NIMC correction must precede corrections at other institutions. The Federal High Court has jurisdiction over disputes with NIMC where a correction application is unreasonably refused, under the fundamental rights enforcement provisions of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
The evidentiary strength of an Affidavit of Age in Nigeria depends significantly on the quality and quantity of supporting documents attached or presented alongside the affidavit. The ideal supporting documents depend on the purpose and the institution to which the affidavit is being presented. Primary supporting documents include: a birth certificate issued by the National Population Commission (NPC) — if available, this makes the affidavit much stronger; a hospital birth record, birth notification card, or maternity register extract from the hospital or traditional birth attendant where the deponent was born; and a primary school leaving certificate showing the name and date of birth as recorded at the earliest stage of the deponent's education. Secondary supporting documents include: a National Examination Council (NECO) or WAEC result certificate showing date of birth; a church or mosque baptism or naming ceremony record showing date of birth; a hospital or clinic immunisation card from childhood; and an employer's records showing date of birth as declared on appointment. For the Federal Civil Service Commission (FCSC), the employer will typically require at least two independent documents corroborating the declared date of birth before accepting an affidavit alone. For the National Pension Commission (PenCom) date of birth corrections, the Pension Fund Administrator (PFA) will require the affidavit and corroborating documents before updating the Retirement Savings Account (RSA) record.
The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Scheme, established under the NYSC Act Cap N84 LFN 2004, requires corps members mobilised for the mandatory one-year service to be within the specified age range — generally below 30 years old at the time of graduation, unless the individual is a law graduate who attended Law School (in which case a higher age limit may apply). Where a corps member's age as recorded in their university records differs from their JAMB or other identity documents, the NYSC Directorate may require an Affidavit of Age to reconcile the discrepancy before issuing a call-up letter. The Affidavit of Age for NYSC purposes must be sworn before a Commissioner for Oaths and must clearly state the deponent's full name, date of birth, and the specific discrepancy being addressed. The affidavit must be supported by the relevant identity documents (student identification, JAMB printout, NIN card). However, NYSC age requirements have been subject to controversy and several reforms, and the NYSC Directorate's current requirements should be confirmed directly, as they may have been updated after August 2025. The NYSC Directorate offices in Abuja and state NYSC offices can advise on the current documentation requirements for age discrepancy cases. An Affidavit of Age is also relevant when a corps member who was excluded from NYSC on age grounds seeks to challenge the exclusion, as the affidavit establishes the evidentiary basis for the true date of birth.
This template is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction and change over time. Consult a qualified attorney for advice specific to your situation.Full disclaimer
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