LEGISLATION AND THE RIGHTS OF SENIOR CITIZENS IN NIGERIA
OCTOBER 1ST of every year, which coincides with Nigeria’s independce is actually a day designated by the United Nations to examine, analyse, celebrate laudable policies and formulate new policies that center around older persons globally.
Year 2020 marks the 75th Anniversary of the United Nations and the 30th Anniversary of the International Day of Older Persons.
- According to the United Nations, By 2020, the number of people aged 60 years and older will outnumber children younger than 5 years.
- United Nations has also projected, that over the next three decades, the number of older persons worldwide is projected to more than double, reaching more than 1.5 billion persons in 2050，and 80% of them will be living in low- and middle-income countries.
“The world marks the 30th anniversary
of the international
Day of Older Persons as we recon with the
disproportionate and severe impact the COVID-19 pandemic
has wrought on older persons around the world – not
only on their health, but on their rights and well-being.”
General Antonio Guterres
United Nations Secretary-General
THE SITUATION IN NIGERIA
The deplorable state of the elderly care and and welfare in Nigeria is beyond comprehension. When you take a look at how senior citizens in our dear country Nigeria are being treated, you cannot but think twice about your future as an individual.
Not many people know that in the constitution of Nigeria, old age care/elder Care is embedded in it. It is the responsibility of the government to ensure that senior citizens are not marginalized.
A LOOK AT THE CONSTITUTION OF NIGERIA
Fundamental human rights is clearly entrenched in our constitution and this includes the older persons or senior citizens.
• Section 14.2 (b) of Nigeria constitution states that “the security and welfare of it’s people shall be the primary purpose of the government.”
In the section quoted above, it clearly involves all the citizenry, the question therefore is, Are there systems and policies in place to protect the senior citizens, and to ensure their welfare ?
• Section 16 (2) (d) of the Constitution further states that “suitable and adequate shelter and suitable and adequate food, reasonable national minimum living wage, OLD AGE CARE and pensions and unemployment, sick benefits and welfare of the disabled are provided for all citizens.”
In section 16 (2) (d) above, you would see that I intensionally put old age care in capital, to let you know that the care of senior citizens is well captured within our constitution. Also, the question remains, despite this constitutional provisions, what policies, systems and programmes has the government put in place, to ensure that this portion of our dear constitution is adhered to?
STEPS TAKEN BY GOVERNMENTS AND INDIVIDUALS TOWARDS THE CARE AND WELFARE OF THE ELDERLY IN NIGERIA
It is not a fallacy to say that the Nigerian government from one dispensation to another has not done much, when it comes to the care of the elderly in our society.
• In 1989, the Nigeria government developed the national social development policy which is aimed at providing a framework for protecting the elderly from moral and material neglect.
• It was recorded that Senator Ganiyu Solomon of the Action Congress of Nigeria, sponsored a bill for “an act to establish a NATIONAL CENTER FOR ELDERLY PERSONS, for general purpose of providing welfare and recreational facilities for the elderly, and the designing of developmental programmes and activities for the advancement of elderly persons in Nigeria.” This bill was passed on 14th July, 2009.
• Also, senator Anyim Use of the People’s Democratic Party was said to have sponsored a bill ” for an act to provide social security for unemployed graduates and the aged in Nigeria and for purposes connected thereto” in June 2010.
• The National Policy on the care and welfare of elderly persons is yet to be implemented.
President Buhari led administration signed into law a bill “National Senior Citizens Acts 2018.” This bill provides for the establishment of National Senior Citizens Centers by institutions and the three tiers of government in the country to cater for the need, care and orientation of senior citizens.
While we appreciate the signing of this bill into law, unfortunately, it has neither been talked about nor implemented, after the assent of the President.
WHY WE SHOULD HAVE POLICIES AND PROGRAMMES FOR THE ELDERLY
Nigeria has approximately 9.3 million elderly people according to National Population Commission (NPC).
World Health Organization has said that between 2015 and 2050, the proportion of world’s population over 60years of age will nearly double from 12% to 22%. This corroborates the projection of the United Nations.
Unfortunately, Nigeria is not preparing for this. It is a crisis waiting to happen, and this is why we must begin to put policies and programmes in place to prevent this avoidable crisis from happening.
WHAT THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD DO URGENTLY
Going by the statistics from the United Nations and World Health Organization above, it is evident that time is running out, and the government needs to act on time, by doing the followings:
• Implementing the law establishing National Centers for senior citizens at the Federal, State and Local government levels.
• Having a robust database for the elderly, this will ensure adequate capturing and it will greatly help in planning programmes and projects for the older persons.
• Other steps that the government need to take can be seen here ENSURING A PEACEFUL LIFE FOR OLDER ADULTS/ SENIOR CITIZENS Kindly read it up.
• Also, learn your role as individuals and family members on how to ensure that your elderly ones have the best of life here : THE ROLES OF FAMILY MEMBERS IN ENSURING THE WELLBEING OF THE ELDERLY.
References:
Tanyi et al; Cogent Social Sciences, Care of the elderly in Nigeria:Implications for policy (2018).
Author
My name is Adesuyi Adesina, the founder and CEO of Ganat Healthcare Initiative. I am passionate about the care and health of older persons in our society. Senior citizens deserve good elderly care homes and better healthcare services.