Old Age Legislation in Nigeria

Major groups are the Hausa of the North; the Yoruba of the South West; and the Igbo of the South East. [...] The 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria dwells on the Fundamental Objectives and Directive Principles of State Policy; particularly S.14 (20) (b) which provides that; “the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of the government.” S.16 (2) (d) insists “that suitable and adequate shelter and food, reasonable minimum living wage, old age care and pensions an. [...] The 6th Senate has passed a ‘BILL FOR AN ACT TO ESTABLISH A NATIONAL CENTRE FOR ELDERLY PERSONS FOR GENERAL PURPOSE OF PROVIDING WELFARE AND RECREATIONAL FACILITIES FOR THE ELDERLY AND THE DESIGNING OF DEVELOPMENTAL PROGRAMMES AND ACTIVITIES FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF ELDERLY PERSONS IN NIGERIA.’ The Bill sponsored by Senator Ganiyu Solomon of an opposition party, the Action Congress of Nigeria (Lagos. [...] This ugly situation encourages corruption in the system; people want to accumulate wealth People circumvent the rule because of fear of insecurity Sociological findings attribute the rising rate of armed robbery, kidnapping and other social vices to lack of Social security The issue of Social Security is neglected in the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) and the Southern African Dev. [...] It is hoped that the National Centre for the Elderly Persons Bill and the Social Security Bill would be the beginning of better days for the elderly in Nigeria.