By Nnamdi Ojiego
LAGOS – The Senator representing Lagos Central Senatorial District in the National Assembly, Mrs. Oluremi Tinubu has given reasons why she initiated and sponsored a bill on national social security.

According to her,  there has never been any legislation for social safety nets to protect millions but struggling elderly citizens across the country. “It is in the light of this I am sponsoring a bill for an Act to establish a National Social Security Scheme for elderly persons in Nigeria.”

The bill which has passed the first reading, if passed into law will facilitate possibilities of federal government’s assistance for old people especially those who were in the informal sector.

In her speech entiled; “ Hands on the Plough” at the second edition of Lagos Central Senatorial Town Hall meeting at Banilux Centre, Yaba, Tinubu condemned the widespread of poverty in the country stressing that as the Vice Chairman of Senate Committee on Employment, Labour and Productivity, she would do her best to see that poverty level was reduced to its barest minimum.

She said: “Everywhere in Nigeria today, there is widespread concern that poverty and unemployment continue to foster intense insecurity across the nation. Several of us in the senate are not indifferent. I want to reassure you that I will continue to work with my progressive colleagues to fight and agitate for legislation that will lead to the creation of jobs for our youths.”

The Senator disclosed that part of her efforts to reduce poverty in her senatorial zone include: award of scholarship to over 26 indigent but brilliant students who were to receive N100, 000 scholarship annually under the 4-year Post-Seccondary School Scholarship Scheme, PSSS; and N20,000 monetary empowerment of over 624 rural women under the Petty Traders’ Empowerment Capital Scheme, PETECS.

Speaking further, the former first lady of Lagos State noted that Nigeria is at critical crossroad which required all hands to be on deck to overcome the various problems plaguing the society before things worsen further.

“All of us have to work assiduously towards putting things in the right perspective if we are to achieve the change we desire”, she explained adding that “Long years of stunted growth requires leadership that is ceaseless, focused and concerted efforts by all those who hope for genuine development and social change.

“The change that we seek in Nigeria may appear to be far off, but let us be reassured that we have set our hands on the plough, and we will not look back until the harvest of true development, social harmony, economic progress and political emancipation is realised across the landscape of Nigerian federation”, she stated.