Okoh, Primate of Church of Nigeria, laments plight of pensioners

ARCHBISHOP Nicholas Okoh, the Primate, Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), has called on the Federal Government to address the plight of pensioners and inadequate healthcare of  senior citizens.

Okoh made the appeal in a sermon at a thanksgiving service to mark the 70th birthday and retirement of Justice Olunfunlola Adekeye of the Supreme Court.

He described government’s efforts at alleviating the plight of pensioners as still very inadequate.

“It is a disgrace that an old man of 80 years should be brought in a stretcher to receive his pension. Anyone who is in charge of pension issues in the country should do something about this. It is a disgrace,” he said.

He stressed that it was the duty of the executive, legislative and judicial arm of government to ensure that the country’s senior citizens were well catered for.

Okoh extolled Adekeye’s 40-year “distinguished” career in the public service and retirement from the bench on October 22.

Adekeye is the first female Justice of the Supreme Court from the South West of Nigeria and current Chancellor of the Anglican Diocese of Jebba, Kwara.

The primate described her career in the nation’s judiciary as “no mean achievement for a woman’’.

“So many things would have happened to bring about career accidents but God did not allow that.”

He also lauded the recent appointment of the first female Chief Justice of the Federation, Justice Aloma Mukthar, who was present at the service.

He described her appointment as an honour to Nigerian women, noting that that her rise in the judiciary is “a journey that has been slow but steady”.