Claudia Malher, the UN independent expert on the ‘Enjoyment of all Human Rights by Older Persons’, is set to visit Nigeria.

Emem Omokaro, the director-general of the National Senior Citizen Centre (NSCC), in a statement on Sunday by NSCC spokesman Omini Oden, said the centre would coordinate Ms Malher’s visit was based on Nigeria’s leading role and political commitment to policy and legislative actions that are progressively strengthening the protection of the rights of older persons.

“While in Nigeria, Mahler will be meeting with top government officials dealing with matters of Nigeria’s efforts in addressing the rights of older people, those in detention and other vulnerable groups in the country,” the statement said. “Also focal during her visit will be, assessing the implementation of national, regional and international standards relevant to the rights of older persons and promotion of best practices relating to the protection of these rights.”

The centre explained that the UN official would also investigate and report on development, challenges and protection gaps in the realisation of the rights of older persons and make related recommendations. 

The NSCC boss explained that President Muhammadu Buhari delivered on establishing the NSCC pursuant to the NSCC Act 2017, approved the National Policy on Ageing 2021 and revised the National Social Protection Policy with the Integration of older persons.

Ms Omokaro emphasised that the NSCC had developed a 10-year Strategic Roadmap and National Action Plan on Ageing, accelerated coverage of older persons in social safety-net programmes.

“These innovative programmes and mechanisms in Nigeria have now attracted positive regional and global spotlights. It is an added value, having the UN independent expert to assess the policy and legal frameworks, and have an overview of programmes and services so far embarked on by the present administration,” the NSCC director-general added. 

(NAN)