By Victor Ahiuma-Young

ALL things being equal and in no distance future, there would be an Act of the National Assembly making it mandatory for government at all levels to cater for the plights of the senior citizens in particular and on social welfare in general across the country.

This was part of  the resolutions of members of the National Association of Trade Union Veterans, NATUV,  at a two-day technical workshop held in Badagry, Lagos, sponsored by Friedrich Ebert Stiftung, FES,  to discuss the possibility and the modalities of preparing a bill to cater for the plights of the senior citizens in particular and on social welfare in general.

Already experts who are vast in the act of Bill drafting are working on the proposed Bill focusing among other issues, the scope, administration of social security, benefits/assistance, the preliminary provisions, the various interpretation and other legal steps.

Mr. Thomas Mattig (standing) with President NATUV(2nd left) Mr. Steve Osidipe and others at the briefing.

Reeling the outcome of the workshop at a briefing, President of NATUV, Mr. Steve Osidipe, lamented that though the provisions of laws in several societies are meant to protect the various individuals in such society, but the Nigerian constitution and various other laws and edicts have no precise provision for the care of the senior citizens and the vulnerable.

According to him, it is disheartening to discover that the issue of social security that is taken seriously by other nations including some African nations, which are generally believe to be poor, is lacking in Nigeria.

Mr. Osidipe said the technical workshop was organized to stimulate participants in generating various issues that were needed in the proposed Social Welfare Bill, SWB,   that aimed at taking care of the young, the aged, the unemployed and the vulnerable in the Nigerian society.

Also, the workshop was to map out ways and the procedures of preparing and presenting the bill to the National Assembly for debate and subsequent approval.

Poverty, others compound senior citizens woes

According to him during the workshop, participants observed that “despite the impressive economic performance since 1960s and most importantly between 2003 and 2007 and the subsequent estimate savings of $16 billion in April 2008 and $20 billion in January 2009 in Nigeria’s excess crude account, the welfare deficits for senior citizens in Nigeria within the general social protection system is nothing to write home about.

The socio-economic context and the global financial crisis with their various indicators have their negative impacts on the care for and the living conditions of the senior citizens. Poverty through unemployment and under-employment, HIV/AIDS, child labour, human trafficking and migration, labour administration or labour market governance, social protection for the elderly and the people with disability, ratification and implementation record of International Labour Organisation, ILO, conventions have resulted in a number of decent work deficits which have resulted in the poor conditions of senior citizens in Nigeria.

None of the projects collectively and severally initiated by UN agencies in meeting the challenges of decent work deficit in Nigeria has no project targeted directly at the senior citizens. The phenomenon of failure of successive government is affecting all facets of life. The elderly are also not spared. The provisions of the Pension Reform of 2004 are laced with various clauses that look impracticable, especially the aspect of disbursements of the fund to the rightful beneficiaries.”

“The provision of the Pension Reform of 2004 is beclouded with ambiguity on what to do with those that retired before the implementation of this Act, as many of them are not yet paid their gratuity and are being denied of their pension.. Trade Unions are also the worst employers of labour based on the way they treat their employees. Some Trade Unions Executives also collaborate and collude with employers and/or their representatives to maltreat their members, especially in the area of unfair labour practices.

All human beings have equal status as rights. All these rights are inherent to human dignity which is embedded in the United Nations Declarations on Human Rights. The senior citizens are inclusive.

Many developing countries have put in place various policies and programmes to reduce poverty in order to protect and promote the rights of senior citizens. This however is absent in Nigeria. A country like USA has abolished age-based retirement. Many people enjoy healthy and active life in old age and the elderly participate actively in social, political and religious issues in their country with improved financial status of the elderly.

Despite several policies formulated nationally and internationally to care for the senior citizens, these policies laudable as they seem are never implemented. Worse are the older people who are self-employed persons who constitute a preponderant proportion (at least 90%) of all older Nigerian. Also, there is no provision for other vulnerable groups like unemployed, child care givers and socially distressed persons.

Participants added “that countries like Brazil, South Africa, Ethiopia and Egypt despite their economic situations still pay monthly stipends of between $100-$120 to their senior citizens while Egypt in addition has special discounts for the elderly on transportation, social activities and medical services.

No general social security legislation in Nigeria save for the following which focus on narrower areas of – Workmen’s compensation Act, National social Insurance Trust Fund Act, Pensions Reform Act 2004, National Health insurance Act. That the provisions of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on the care of the elderly are somewhat contradictory. This is premised on the fact that what the constitution gives in Section 17(3) (f) is inadvertently withdrawn in Section 6(6)(c ).

This is an indication that our government has as it were a constitutionally-sanctioned licence to neglect our senior citizens. Ideological orientation is absent among the present trade union leaders. There is absence of social justice in trade union activities, union leaders are not necessarily socialists but they should have socialist orientation.”

NATUV seeks elderly welfare centres in 774 LGAs

At the end of the workshop, participants recommended among others,  that “government should institute social security policies for senior citizens in Nigeria as well as for the unemployed to reduce to the barest minimum the prevalent poverty in Nigeria. Government as a matter of urgency and priority pay retirees their pension entitlements as and when due to uplift their living standards.

Welfare centres for the elderly should be built and run by government in all the 774 Local Governments in Nigeria to cater for the basic needs and plights of Senior citizens in Nigeria. Provision of state-of-the-art health care centres/services for the elderly at the Federal, State and Local levels to be rendered by the ministry of Health.

Provision of geriatric centres by the government for senior citizens who have no family support and who live in solitary conditions. There should be an agency set up by government to cater for the needs of senior citizens. The National Assembly should champion the establishment of Senior Citizens Act with respect to their social security benefits. Impact assessment studies should always be provided concerning the plight of senior citizens as part of the processing of contemplated social policies in Nigeria.

Social security programme that will be holistic for the youth, the aged, the unemployed and the physically-challenged people should be put in place. There should be the redistribution of additional income to the old who are lifetime poor. Since there are several funds earmarked to take care of various areas, there is the need to have fund to take care of the senior citizens.”

“Constitutional provision on review of pensions that pensions should be reviewed every five year or when salaries are reviewed upward, should be strictly adhered to by both public and private sectors. Section 17 (3)(21)(3) of the constitution should be obeyed. Senior citizens should be actively involved in the development and implementation of all programmes and services that address their situations and circumstances. Trade unions should draft and submit detailed social security laws and an enforcement of the National Health Insurance Scheme to the National Assembly to promote debate and offer alternative to the existing regime of neglect. Trade Unions should establish businesses that will cater for retired labour leaders and other senior citizens within and outside the movement.”