Emerald Elderly Care and Development Foundation, an NGO, has called for prompt payment of pensioners’ entitlements and provision of adequate care for the elderly in the country.
Dr Becky Ogonnaya, Founder of the organisation, made the call at the 2022 Emerald Senior Citizens Conference, in Abuja.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the event tagged “Rising to the Challenge: Empowering the use of Technology”, featured free medical check-up and disbursement of business and loan support to the elderly.
NAN also reports that the conference was organised in collaboration with the National Senior Citizens Center (NSCC) and the National Council of Women Societies (NCWS) FCT Chapter.
Ogonnaya said that the conference was organised to promote the well-being of Nigeria’s aging population, who had been neglected for too long.
“This conference is to sensitise the senior citizens and to also advocate for their wellbeing medically and other wise.
“We have taken the first step by approaching the National Senior Citizens Center established by Mr President and we are bringing the campaign to their domain.
“So we are partnering with them to bridge the gap between the senior citizens and the government.
“We are partnering with the government to see to their health, well-being, financial support, payment of their pension as at when due for the retirees and so many aspects.
“We are believing God that before the end of 2023, we should be able to have helped at least 5,000 senior citizens cut across the nation.
“We are already building a home for them here in Abuja and from here we will move to other states, the idea is that no senior citizen should be homeless, no senior citizen should die of hunger, no senior citizen should be denied of their pension.
“Old age is not a crime, it is a blessing,” she added.
Also, Dr. Emem Omokaro, Director-General, NSCC, represented by Mr Omini Oden, Head, Corporate Affairs, Media and Communications, called on Nigerians to desist from labelling older persons with derogatory names.
“This really prove to the fact that the issues of senior citizens and older persons in Nigeria is in the front banner.
“It is really dignifying to see that besides looking at senior citizens as welfarist, their rights, development are being acknowledged.
“That time has passed when you say their years has been spent, senior citizens are assets.
“We are doing a lot of things to see that this stigma and discrimination against elderly persons is eroded as soon as possible.
“We have partnership with NAPTIP and we will ensure that those who violate older persons are reported and persecuted.
“If you see an elderly person straying away, please assist and help that person,” she said.
Similarly, Mrs Hadiza Abdullahi, President, NCWS, FCT Chapter, also called on the government at all levels to change the narrative of delay in payment of pensions in the country.
“One of the greatest challenge of senior citizens after serving the government is accessing their pension on time.
“We want to beg the government to please change the narrative of pension in Nigeria.
“The pension that people are taking home is nothing to write home about, we want to beg the government to review and look into it,” she added.