NEWS
Abia State Govt Produces Draft Policy Manual for Implementation of Senior Citizens Law, Moves to Strengthen Welfare and Protection for Elderly Citizens
The Abia State Government has produced a draft policy manual that will guide the implementation of the Senior Citizens Law signed into law in 2025, marking another step toward strengthening welfare and social protection for elderly citizens across the state.
The Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, disclosed this on Monday while briefing journalists at the Abia State Government House on the outcome of this week’s State Executive Council meeting presided over by the Governor of Abia State, Alex Otti.
According to him, the policy draft was prepared by the Abia State Ministry of Poverty Alleviation and Social Protection to complement the implementation of the Senior Citizens Law No. 4 of 2025.
He explained that the document was developed to clearly define the provisions of the law and outline the modalities for its implementation.
“This policy document provides a detailed breakdown of the provisions of that law and the modalities for the implementation of the law.
“This clarification has become necessary given the various misleading interpretations of the Senior Citizens’ Law by members of the public.
“While we appreciate the interest shown by members of the public in the new law, we believe that a few people are not in tune with what that law is all about. That is part of the reason this policy manual is being put together,“ Prince Kanu explained.
Prince Kanu further noted that the Senior Citizens’ Law was enacted to create a structured pathway for the participation, security, independence, comprehensive care, self-fulfilment and dignity of elderly citizens in the state. He added that the law also addresses the health, mental and psychological needs of senior citizens.
“This law is not about cash payments or hand outs to our elderly persons.
“So what the law has been able to do is to formalize a number activities that were being carried out in the interest of the senior citizens even before the law was enacted.
“The activities include, the following among others; the celebration of Older Persons International Day, provision of housing support for the aged, indigent and displaced, health support for vulnerable older persons, financial assistance, social insurance for old people, food and nutritional assistance to address specific needs of elderly people.
“The Abia State Government is fully committed to the effective and efficient implementation of the Senior Citizens’ Law and corresponding policy initiatives that will guarantee social protection for all elderly persons who are vulnerable in Abia State,“ Prince Kanu assured.
The Commissioner also highlighted that even before the formal enactment of the law, several government institutions had already been working collaboratively to support elderly citizens.
He noted that the Office of the First Lady, the Ministry of Poverty Alleviation and Social Protection, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Women Affairs and other Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) have been jointly implementing programmes aimed at improving the welfare and care of senior citizens in the state.
Responding to questions from journalists, the Commissioner for Poverty Alleviation and Social Protection, Mrs Ngozi Felix, revealed that the governor had earlier approved the establishment of a nine-member committee tasked with drafting the policy document.
She expressed optimism that the policy framework would be finalized and made available to the public by April.
“So by the month of April, we expect the document to be ready for the public to have a look at.
“The Senior Citizens’ office is currently in a temporary location. But there are plans to give them a more permanent space, given that this law has been signed.
“The board also needs to be constituted and we need to properly establish that office,“ Mrs Felix stated.
She further explained that plans are underway to relocate the current office of the Senior Citizens to a permanent facility and to constitute a governing board that will oversee the full implementation of the law.
The development signals the continued commitment of the Abia State Government under Governor Alex Otti to institutionalize policies that provide sustainable care, protection and dignity fo
r elderly citizens across the state.