Hajiya Zainab Maina, the Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, says the Federal Government will continue to give priority to the needs of the aged in the society.
Maina, who was represented by Mrs Elizabeth Emuren, the permanent secretary of the ministry, announced this in Abuja on Thursday at a dinner to mark the UN International Day for the elderly.
She said the celebration was meant to sensitise members of the public, well spirited individuals, corporate bodies and stakeholders on the need to improve the living conditions of older persons.
She said that one of the mandates of the ministry was to ensure that priority attention is given to the situation of older persons in Nigeria.
According to her, they should have access to adequate food, water, shelter, clothing and quality health care as well as the opportunity to work or have access to other income-generating opportunities.
Older persons, she added, should also be able to live in environments that are safe and adaptable to their personal preferences.
``We should integrate older persons into the society and allow them to participate actively in the formulation and implementation of policies that affect their well-being.”
The minister, who noted that the celebration normally provided an opportunity for people to reflect on the issues of ageing and their impact on older persons, appealed to stakeholders to assist in making their lives more meaningful.
Earlier, Dr Otaki Alanana, a lecturer at the University of Abuja, in a keynote address, explained that older persons refer to people in the age bracket of 60 years and above.
He called on the Federal Government to establish an agency for the care of the elderly in the society.
``The pension system which has had a profound negative impact on the older persons should be revisited to reduce the number senior citizens begging for survival or queuing endlessly.
``The reform of the pension system should be done in such as way that senior citizens can access their pensions easily.’’
He also called for free medical service to cater for the health challenges of the older persons at the national and states levels.
Mr Geoffrey Chima, one of the older persons, who thanked the ministry for giving priority to the aged, promised that they would continue to give their best for the economic development of the country. (NAN)
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