Politics
THE National Senior Citizens Centre (NSCC), on Tuesday, commended Kebbi Government for prompt payment of pension to retired workers.
Dr Emem Omokaro, the NSCC Director-General gave the commendation when she led her management team on a courtesy visit to Gov. Atiku Bagudu, in Birnin Kebbi.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that NSCC is a statutory agency established by the National Senior Citizens Act, of the National Assembly to cater for the needs of the ageing persons in Nigeria.
The DG said: “I have heard so many wonderful things that are happening in Kebbi State, I heard that Kebbi, like many other states, is not owing any pensioner, you have paid pension.
”Yesterday, in our engagement with stakeholders, I have heard a lot of good things by the state government.”
She explained that the centre was established pursuant to the National Senior Citizens Centre Act, 2017 with the mandate to identify needs of senior citizens in Nigeria and to cater for them.
According to her, the statutory remit of the NSCC was also rooted in the National Policy on Ageing for Older Persons in Nigeria, 2021, other international and regional instruments.
Omokaro added that the centre sought to guarantee security, independence, participation, comprehensive care, self-fulfillment and dignity of older persons in the society.
She observed that NSCC was the first distinct national corporate body focused on the inclusion of senior citizens in sustainable development.
The DG identified some functions of the centre to include; to identify the needs, training and opportunities for senior citizens, initiate.
The centre is also to develop and implement productive activities and work schemes aimed at providing income for older persons.
It also seeks to promote and maintain linkages with states and local governments as well as maintain a credible database.
Omokaro said: “As a first step, the NSCC had established in each of the 36 states and the FCT, a Stakeholder Consultative Forum whose eight members are primarily from the field of ageing and related matters.
“Each state’s Stakehoders Consultative Forum, constitute the National Stakeholders Consultative Forum which was inaugurated in the second quarter of this year by the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development.
“The overall objective is to build synergies through stakeholders partnerships and networks across the 36 states of the federation and FCT.
”This solid governance structure is effective as a tool for outreach, advocacy and implementation of programmatic interventions at sub-national levels.
“These efforts are positioned to enable the domestication of the National Senior Citizens Act, 2017, by all the states in Nigeria; by sensitising and mobilising policy makers towards the accelerated inclusion.
”This is to deliberately and statutorily identify and create awareness on the multifaceted disadvantages suffered by older persons and to promptly address and remedy this through linkages with state and local governments.”
Responding, Bagudu appreciated the DG and her entourage for finding Kebbi worthy to be the first state to visit and urged them to sustain the harmonious relationship.
Bagudu, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Alhaji Babale Umar-Yauri, assured that Kebbi would be the first state to domesticate the NSCC Act.
While assuring that his administration was sympathetic to the senior citizens, the governor reiterated the commitment of the state government to continue to take very good care of the aged persons.
“This government is highly sympathetic to the ageing and senior citizens are people we should not joke with, it will be a disservice for a nation to discard senior citizens after using them.
“Government has been alive to its responsibilities by payment of not only pension but also gratuity, we are up to date, it is only 2022 gratuity that is yet to be paid and before the end of the year, we are going to clear it.
“Domestication of NSCC Act, we are going to look at it and we will be the state to domesticate it.
”Even our two major religions in Nigeria, Islam and Christianity have encouraged us to take care of the elderly and there is a special reward for that.
”It is part of fulfillment to our religion and part of service to our motherland,” he said.
Bagudu lauded the National Assembly and President Muhammadu Buhari for passing and signing the NSCC Act into law.
The governor also appreciated the pioneer DG for her commitment and foresight to take care of the aged persons.
He expressed the hope that she would leave behind an incredible landmark while exiting office. (NAN)
A.I
Tags: Dr Emem Omokaro Gov. Atiku Bagudu National Senior Citizens Centre NSCC President Muhammadu Buhari
