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Senior Citizens To Get ID Cards For Easy Access To Social Amenities
The Director-General, National Senior Citizens Centre (NSCC), Dr Emem Omokaro, yesterday, said plans were being made to create identity cards for the aged for easy access to social amenities in the country.
Omokaro, who made this known in Abuja when she featured in the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Forum, said that the identity card for the aged would enable them get prompt services.
According to her, older persons face a lot of challenges in the society, such as attitudinal and physical barriers, resulting in discrimination.
She said that the aged do not deserve such treatments due to what they had given to the society, adding that they deserve a better pay back from the society.
“One of such ways the society should give back to the elderly is by creating age-friendly services for the senior citizens.
“So, we want to build a Nigeria where senior citizens will be dignified; we want Nigeria to see it also in the sense of financial assistance.
“When you go into the bank, you just see older persons lined up, youths are in front, the older persons are lined up behind, this should never happen.
“So, the idea is that they should walk anywhere and get prompt service with their ID.”
Omokaro said that there should be safe transportation for them with discounts.
“There was a time when we had this in Nigeria, so with their ID they can go to hospital or to a pharmacy and get pharmaceutical coupons, if they want to be seated on the train they get first class services.
“You don’t have to announce I am old, once people see your ID card, they just know,” she said
Omokaro said that the centre was looking for a Nigeria where youths would want to grow old.
She said because they would see the elderly and respect them, “and they see the tradition of society that pays back somebody who has invested so much in the country.”
She said that the centre at inception interacted with older persons, urging them to list their needs so they could be catered for properly.
“They came listing them and one of it was that they had suffered enough discrimination. They said please identify us and we need age-friendly services.
“That was in the communique that I now took, amongst others, to present to the minister and with a memo to facilitate it; this is what they want the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, Hajia Sadiyah Farouk, to do.
“So, she is pushing it. Hopefully we will hear the news,’’ she said.
The D-G stressed the need to establish the anti-elder abuse response volunteer squad, saying it would caution and curb various abuses encountered by older persons in the society.
Some of the abuses encountered by older persons were verbal abuse, emotional abuse, financial, caregiver and family abuses.
She, however, noted that the centre is working with National Human Rights Commission and the Legal Aid Council to provide legal assistance on issues related to the aged.
Asiwaju Bola Tinubu yesterday signed his first piece of legislation as President, when he assented to a constitutional amendment bill bringing uniformity to the retirement age and pension rights of judicial officers in the country.
This was disclosed in a statement signed by the State House Director of Information, Abiodun Oladunjoye, yesterday.
The statement is titled ‘President Tinubu assents to constitutional amendment Bill on uniformity in retirement age of judicial officers’.
The statement read in part: “In exercising the powers vested in him under the 1999 Constitution as amended, President Bola Tinubu yesterday at the State House assented to a fresh amendment of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“President Tinubu signed into law the ‘Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (Fifth Alteration) (No.37), 2023’ presented by the outgoing 9th National Assembly”.
It added that “With the signing of the Constitutional amendment Bill, retirement age and pension rights of judicial officers have been effectively brought into uniformity and other related matters”.
While signing the amendment Bill into law, Tinubu pledged his administration’s dedication to strengthening the judiciary, ensuring the rule of law, and empowering judicial officers to execute their responsibilities effectively.
The Federal Government has declared Monday, June 12, as a public holiday in commemoration of 2023 Democracy Day celebration.
This was contained in a statement issued by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Interior, Dr Oluwatoyin Akinlade, on behalf of the Federal Government.
While congratulating Nigerians on the occasion, Akinlade stated that the country’s democratic journey has encountered stormy and smooth sails, just like in many other climes.
She said, “But the ship of State, its institutions and most importantly, the Nigerian people have remained steadfast on the tenets of democratic governance.”
“On this memorable occasion therefore, Nigerians and friends of Nigeria are invited to appreciate the progress that has been made, celebrate the milestones covered and look forward to a better future for the country’s democracy.
“The Permanent Secretary wishes all Nigerians a Happy Democracy Day celebration, “ the statement added.
Five commissioner nominees are to appear before the Rivers State House of Assembly, today for screening.
The nominees include Engr. Chukwuemeka Woke, Barr.(Mrs) Inime Aguma, Hon Nwafor Uchechukwu, Dr. Kenneth Chisom Gbah and Hon. Henry Ogiri.
In a statement signed by the Acting Clerk of the House, Dr. Emeka Amadi, the five commissioner nominees are expected to appear before the lawmakers by 10am.
The nominees are also requested to submit 40 copies of their original credentials to the office of the Acting Clerk on or before 9am, today.
Four commissioners had earlier been screened by the Assembly and sworn in by the State governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, last week.
These nominees, if screened and confirmed, will therefore, bring the number of commissioners in the State to nine in the last one week.
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