BY JONAH NWOKPOKU
SENIOR citizens in the country have appealed to the authorities to make significant efforts to improve their welfare and help address their numerous plights.

They also called on government at all levels to look into pension administration and make it more effective, as its current state has not helped  address the plight of pensioners, most of whom are older people.

They made the call yesterday, during the celebration of this year’s Old Persons’ Day organised by Third Age Initiative in collaboration with the United Nations Information Centre in Lagos.

The old peoples’ day, which is celebrated every first day of October is a day set out by the United Nations to call attention to the plight of the aged and the ageing population all over the world.

Speaking at the event with the theme: ‘Leave no one behind: Promoting a society for all,  chairman of the occasion, Dr. Michael Omolayole, in an opening remark, decried  difficulties that older people face after they have retired from active life, especially in Nigeria. He  condemned the harrowing experiences that pensioners have to go through to get their meagre pensions and the manner in which authorities like the Police disrespect older people by harassing them on the road.

L-r: Dr Michael Omolayole, presenting Elderly Person of the Year Award to Chief (Mrs) Folake Solanke; Mrs Toun Giwa, Executive Director, 3rd Age Initiatives and Ms Envera Selimovic, United Nations representative during the 2014 celebration of International Day of Older Persons organised by Third Age Initiative for Elderly rights and Welfare in Collaboration with United Nations Information Centre in Lagos

Social inclusion

He said: “It is bad enough that those who gave their best as young people are being neglected. We do not seem to give a special thought to old age in our country. This is evident in a way that people, including authorities like the Police harass older people on the road.”

Earlier in a message read to the gathering,  Secretary General of the United Nations, Mr Ki-Moon said older people can still contribute meaningfully to the society. He, therefore, called for social inclusion to tap into the reserved energy of  older people for societal development. According to him, “Older persons make a lot of contributions to economic and social development. However, discrimination and social exclusion persist. We must overcome this bias in order to ensure a socially and economically active, secure and healthy ageing population.”

In a welcome address,  Executive Director of Third Age Initiative, Mrs. Toun Giwa said older people need more than just a home for the elderly. She called on  government to take responsibility for the welfare of  older people in the country by providing basic infrastructure that will guarantee  comfortable life for them.

She noted that the celebration was part of the advocacy for the welfare and rights of older people in the country, adding that the rights and privileges of the elderly should not be ignored.

“The public sector should do more on pension reforms. The private sector on the other hand should also develop more creative ways of attending to the needs of the elderly. I also implore our politicians to make the welfare of the elderly their top priority even as they get ready for the 2015 general elections. Young people who have elderly parents should endeavour to seek counsel on how best to take care of them,” she said.

Highlight of the event was a lecture delivered by the Professor of Economics and Chairman, Lagos Business School, Prof. Pat Utomi. In the lecture entitled: ‘Senior citizens as a meaningful part of democratic process’ Utomi, who was represented by James Ebube of Centre for Values in Leadership, tasked  elderly people to take their democratic participation beyond the electoral period and continue to contribute meaningfully to the society by exploring various avenues available to them.

He said: “Participating in election is not the only role that a senior citizen is supposed to play in a democratic process. Senior citizens in a country like Nigeria have important roles to play. They can contribute immensely by providing ideas, giving special advices and even participating directly in the government of the day. This is because  older people, though they have retired have lots of energy and experience to share. So they should not limit themselves to just going to the polling station and casting votes.

L-r:Dr Dele Sobowale, Vanguard Columnist; Otunba JK Randle and Obong Victor Attah, former Governor of Akwa Ibom State

“The old people can also offer structured and dynamic programmes for bringing like-minded government individuals together. Such platforms can provide opportunity for senior citizens to discuss issues that affect the government. The old people can offer meaningful and structured ideas on what is going on in the country.  Old people can also actively participate in an electoral process by making visible their roles in the democratic process. They can, through a forum organised for old people, exchange experiences and discuss democratic issues either through a residential seminar, television programmes, radio discussions and the social media.

Social media

“These days that we have the internet, a senior citizen can sit comfortably in the house, and through the social media like Facebook, Twitter, etc, contribute meaningfully to democratic process.  They can also develop a network of older people where they can constantly debate democratic issues and also disseminate that material. They can form a coalition so that they can provide a simple communiqué on  issues they discuss and make it available all over the country.

“Senior citizens must also speak out to promote the ideas of accountability and transparency and good governance. When things are going wrong in the country, it is the responsibility of senior citizens to speak up and tell the government what is not right and where they are going wrong, while telling them what they must do. They can also criticize and caution government on wrong policies and bad governance.

“Senior citizens must also foster intercultural learning and facilitate intercultural dialogue, especially in a country where there are many ethnic groups. It is the responsibility of senior citizens to promote dialogue among all ethnic groups. They must also institute and encourage dialogue between young and old people. After one has retired, that is the time to share his ideas and help young people to grow.”

Some of the elderly people at the event charged their fellow older people not to see themselves as recluse but to find ways of keeping themselves relevant while also standing up for their rights when the need arises. Director of Zonta International Club, Lagos, Mrs. Bawor Omiyi said: “To address the plight of older people in the country, there needs to be special considerations for them. Public institutions like banks, hospitals should give special attention and privileges and others should be encouraged to do so.”

Attitude towards the elderly

On his part, a Retired permanent secretary, Otunba Adeoye said there is a need for the government to create a special parastatal to cater to the needs of older people.

He said: “Most of the complaints that people are making here today is concerning government’s actions and attitude towards the elderly. For instance, when people are employed, they are promised free medical care, housing and all that but when you retire and become a pensioner, you don’t get anything. Once you have retired, you can’t get to any hospital and say you want free medical treatment. It will not even be easy for you to see the doctor. To even receive their minimum pension, they are treated with levity.

“And that is why I advocate that there be an arm of government dedicated to the needs of  pensioners and other older persons. This is because if you have an arm of government, and there is a place where people can collate their complaints and refer to them, then they may get attention from there.  It may get to the attention of lawmakers or the appropriate authorities, it will not be just like blowing hot air, everyone hears, but no one does anything.”

The event also featured a didactic drama exploring the plight of old people and how young people can better take care of their aged parents and information on how and where older people can seek medical care.

The organiser of the award, 3rd Age Initiative used the opportunity to recognise some eminent and elderly Nigerians, including Chief Folake Solanke (SAN) who was given an award for the older person of the year. Others include Prof. Wole Soyinka and Bashorun Moshood Abiola.

The event was also graced by some dignitaries including: Former Common Wealth Secretary General, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, former Governor of Akwaibom State, Obong Victor Attah, wife of the former Givernor of Ondo State, Olufunke Agagu, Publisher of Vanguard newspaper, Mr. Sam Amuka, a prominent Accountant, Bashorun, J. K Randle, Vanguard Columnist, Dr. Dele Sobowale.

Others include: Chief Larry Williams, Fehintola Okunola and Chief Dejumo Lewis.