The Abia 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.

Information commissioner Okey Kanu made the clarification on Monday while briefing journalists on the outcome of the State Executive Council meeting in Umuahia.

Mr Kanu said the law was designed to guarantee care and support for elderly persons in the state.

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

Mr 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.

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

Mr 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 been implementing programmes to improve the welfare of older persons.

Mr 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, including the annual celebration of the International Day of Older Persons and housing support for indigent and displaced elderly persons.

(NAN)