By IHECHINYERE CHIGEMERI-UWOM

Abia State government has clarified that its recently enacted Senior Citizens’ Law No. 4 of 2025 is not a direct cash disbursement programme but a comprehensive social protection framework.

The Commissioner for Information, Mr Okey Kanu, made the clarification on Monday while briefing journalists on the outcome of the State Executive Council meeting, in Umuahia.

Kanu said that the law had been designed to guarantee care and support for elderly persons in the state.

He said that the state government was already preparing a procedural manual and policy document to guide the implementation of the law to address widespread misconceptions surrounding the legislation.

The commissioner said that the document would clearly outline the provisions of the law and the modalities for its implementation.

“Let me start by informing you all that a procedural manual and policy document is being produced by the Ministry of Poverty Alleviation and Social Protection to complement the implementation of the Senior Citizens’ Law No. 4 of 2025.

“This policy document will provide a detailed breakdown of the provisions of that law and the modalities for its implementation.

“This clarification has become necessary given the various but misleading interpretations of the Senior Citizens’ Law by members of the public,” he said.

Kanu said that the government appreciated the level of public interest in its programmes and policies.

He, however, added that there was a need to correct the notion that the law was designed primarily to provide direct cash payments to elderly citizens.

Kanu said that the legislation was conceived to ensure the welfare, security and dignity of elderly persons through structured social protection measures.

“While we appreciate the interest that members of the public are showing in the activities of the Abia State Government, we believe that a few people are not in tune with what that law is all about.

“Abia State Senior Citizens’ Law was enacted to provide a pathway for the participation, security and independence, and comprehensive care, self-fulfilment and dignity for our senior citizens.

“This comprehensive care covers the health, mental and psychological needs of our senior citizens,” he said.

Kanu further stressed that the initiative should not be mistaken for a direct financial payout scheme, adding that “this law is not about cash payments or cashouts to our elderly persons”.

He explained that even before the formal enactment of the law, the government had already been implementing programmes targeted at improving the welfare of older persons.

Kanu added that the law simply provided a formal framework to coordinate initiatives already implemented by the present administration to support elderly persons.

He listed some of the key programmes under the policy to include the annual celebration of the International Day of Older Persons, housing support for indigent and displaced elderly persons, among others.

“The activities include, amongst others, the celebration of Older Persons International Day.

“It is a yearly celebration of old people and when that happens, they are celebrated and gift items are provided to make them happy.

“The provision of housing support for the elderly that are indigent and displaced, health support for vulnerable older persons, financial assistance and social insurance for older people.

Finally, food and nutritional assistance to address specific needs of elderly people,” Kanu said.

He reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to ensuring that the law is implemented effectively to safeguard the welfare of vulnerable elderly citizens across the state.

Also, the Commissioner for Poverty Alleviation and Social Protection, Mrs Ngozi Felix, said that the policy document was currently in draft form.

Felix said that Gov. Alex Otti of Abia had approved the constitution of a nine-man committee drawn from relevant social protection implementing agencies in the state.

She explained that the committee, which was constituted last month, had been given two months to review the document, which was expected to be ready for public access by April. (NAN)