FG awards 5% of social interventions to senior citizens

•Signs African charter on protection of elderly persons
President Bola Tinubu has approved five per cent of all social protection intervention programmes for senior citizens to enable them actively participate in social life.

Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr Betta Edu, disclosed this at the maiden equity and design fair organised by the National Senior Citizens Centre (NSCC), yesterday, in Abuja.

She said: “The President has provided graciously five per cent of all the implementation of our social protection programmes for senior citizens in Nigeria and we are counting on the Centre to be able to get down to the grassroots.

“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has also signed the Senior Citizens Charter for Elderly Persons, which is the African charter, and the Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved it to protect the rights of senior citizens in this country.

“These are all opportunities created by the government of President Ahmed Bola Tinubu’s to give a renewed hope to all of us. Let us latch unto it.”

Director General of the Centre, Dr Emem Omokaro, said the Fair aims at showcasing various programmes and initiative the agency is undertaking with senior citizens and exploring partnership openings with the private sector.

According to her, NSCC’s innovative and transformative actions is aimed at improving quality of life and wellbeing for older persons and to bring about human rights, business and economic growth case for equity and inclusion of older persons in sustainable development through the exhibitions.

“NSCC gears efforts in programme and services designs to reorient attitudes of Nigerians at all levels, particularly policy and decision makers to engage an optimistic perception of ageing; to view ageing from a diversity of older persons and from a development lens; to partner with us to unveil the opportunities for economic growth in every challenge of older persons.

“The universal declaration of human rights has been in existence for 75 years. It offered the universal human family promises of equality, equity, non-discrimination on the basis of rights and dignity, independence, participation and care.”

In her remarks, Deputy Chief Whip, House of Representatives, Otunba Adewumi-Onanuga, advocated the creation of a ministry of senior citizens, citing the importance of dedicating a ministry instead of an agency to handle issues related to senior citizens.