The deputy chief whip of the House of Representatives, Adewumi Oriyomi-Onanuga, has advocated the establishment of the Federal Ministry of Senior Citizens Affairs that will cater for the welfare of older persons in the nation.

Ms Oriyomi-Onanuga made the call on Tuesday at the 2023 Service Fair organised by the National Senior Citizens Centre (NSCC) in Abuja with the theme: Equity by Design, Delivering Multi-Sectoral Inclusion for Older Persons.

She said the ministry would be responsible for proper coordination and implementation of social protection services to older persons in the country.

According to her, the ministry will coordinate social protection and intervention programmes to alleviate the plight of older persons.

The lawmaker believes that senior citizens deserve a lot from Nigeria as a way of giving back to them for the sacrifices they made while in active service.

She assured stakeholders of the House’s resolve to support all efforts to ensure speedy passage of any appropriation bill that would cater to the welfare of older persons in the nation.

The director-general of the National Senior Citizens Centre (NSCC), Emem Omokaro, said NSCC was working with relevant stakeholders to ensure the quality of lives and welfare of older persons in the country.

Ms Omokaro said NSCC would also help mainstream its intervention programmes to improve the quality of life and welfare of older persons across states and local government areas.

”It has consistently been the challenge of the national systems in the federal, state and local governments to recognise ageing as a development issue.

”Rather than view older persons as welfare recipients and to understand the rapid advancement of the teaming youth population into older age as holding significant implications,” she said.

The NSCC boss, therefore, stressed the need to support efforts toward addressing problems associated with the ageing population in the country.

(NAN)