BY MONSURU OLOWOOPEJO

LAGOS — Senator Oluremi Tinubu representing Lagos Central senatorial district, yesterday,  said lack of provision of social security for the elderly by the Federal Government was responsible for the inability of the aged citizens to contribute to the nation’s development.

Tinubu added that this was also responsible for the country’s recent ranking of 85 of the 91 countries by the United Nation Population Fund, UNFPA, in its 2013 Global Age Watch index study.

The senator spoke at the 9th Town Hall meeting and 2nd edition of Elderly Citizens’ Assistance Scheme, ECAS, held simultaneously in the 13 Local Government and Local Council Development Area, LCDA secretariats under the senatorial district.

Speaking at one of the venues – Eti Osa Local Government- she said: “Between last year and now, not much has changed for the elderly; the challenges are complete exclusion from national policies, especially those that affect their security, health, enabling environment, among others.

“Our traditional system of social protection which allowed younger family members to cater for the older ones can no longer be sustained because of the problem of gross unemployment.”

According to her: “Ageing in Nigeria is associated with the travails of poverty, disease, degeneration and disability.”