Andy Esiet, Calabar
NSCC charges state governments in Nigeria to domesticate national policy on ageing
The National Senior Citizens Centre, NSCC has called for the urgent need for the State Governments in Nigeria to domesticate the National Policy on Ageing.
Director General of the Centre, Dr. Emem Omokoro who made the call in a statement made available to some newsmen in Calabar yesterday also called for the adoption of the National Senior Citizens Act 2017 to be on track to give senior citizens in the states the pride of place.
The statement which was signed by the Head, Public Affairs, Media and Communication, Mr. Omini Oden said current state of senior citizens was not encouraging and adjudged Ekiti State as a store house and resource base of very active senior citizens, full of vigor, expertise, candor and still available for service to the nation.
Dr Omokaro said with the zeal displayed and model in Ekiti State there was the urgent need for the State Government to domesticate the National Policy on Ageing as well as adopt the National Senior Citizens Act 2017 to be on track to give senior citizens in the state the pride of place.
She assured that the National Senior Citizens Centre is willing to collaborate with the Ekiti Council of Elders and the State Government in developing intergenerational synergies that will leave legacies in the sands of time.
The Director general informed the body of Senior Citizens that President Muhammadu Buhari during the first ever presidential summit on Ageing in Nigeria declared the October 5, annually as National Day of Older persons in Nigeria and mandated NSCC working with relevant agencies of governments to commence the registration of Senior Citizens in Nigeria.
The statement said the Director General of the Centre, was in Ado Ekiti, capital of Ekiti state during a town hall meeting organized by the Ekiti Council of Elders in collaboration with the Nigerian Union of Pensioners, Ekiti State Chapter and made declarations to effect senior citizens in the country effectively.
Oden in the statement said the President of Ekiti Council of Elders, Professor Joseph Oluwasanmi appreciated the federal government through the National Senior Citizens Centre for making life more bearable and meaningful for Senior Citizens who have spent a greater part of their productive years in service to the nation.
He said the Ekiti Council of Elders is a non-partisan organization open to all Ekiti sons and daughters above 60 years.
