Otti Clarifies Abia Senior Citizens Establishment Law
Misunderstandings about the Abia Senior Citizens Centre by the administration of Governor Alex Otti have been laid to rest. The centre was established to provide social protection and access to healthcare for the elderly in the state and not for money sharing, the government clarified.
According to the state government, the senior citizens centre will not serve as a retirement home or a place for abandoned senior citizens in Abia.
There have been speculations that senior citizens in the state will be receiving monthly stipend and other packages from the government, through the centre.
But the Commissioner for Information, Okey Kanu, who spoke on the matter, clarified that the centre would develop a reliable database of aged persons, ensure protection of their rights, access to healthcare and social welfare, in collaboration with relevant ministries and agencies.
The commissioner said: “The Abia State Government wishes to clarify the true context, intent, and content of Law No. 4 of 2025, which establishes the Abia State Senior Citizens Centre, in order to properly inform the public and dispel misconceptions surrounding the law.
“This legislation is a deliberate and compassionate response by the administration of Governor Alex Otti, to the growing population of elderly persons in Abia State and the long-standing absence of a structured, government-backed system dedicated to their care, welfare, and social inclusion.
“For decades, senior citizens have contributed significantly to the development of our communities, economy, and families.
“However, ageing often comes with health challenges, social isolation, and economic vulnerability. Law No. 4 of 2025 is therefore a social protection policy, not political symbolism, aimed at restoring dignity, care, and relevance to elderly citizens.
“The law formally establishes the Abia State Senior Citizens Centre as a government-recognised institution. The Centre is neither a retirement home, nor a place of abandonment.
“Rather, it serves as a coordinated hub, where senior citizens can access support services, engage socially, receive guidance, participate in recreational and skills-sharing activities, and benefit from structured welfare programmes.
“Through this Centre, the government now has a unified platform to plan, coordinate, and implement elderly-focused interventions across the state, replacing the previously fragmented and informal approach to senior citizens’ welfare.
“The Centre is mandated to promote the welfare, dignity and quality of life for senior citizens by providing social, psychological, and health-related support, while also serving as an advocacy platform for the protection of their rights.”
“It is empowered to develop programmes, maintain a reliable database of elderly persons, facilitate access to healthcare and social welfare schemes, and collaborate with relevant ministries, agencies, NGOs, faith-based organisations, and development partners.
“Administratively, the Centre operates under the supervision of the Ministry of Poverty Alleviation and Social Protection to ensure accountability, transparency and alignment with the state’s broader social welfare policies to ensure accountability, transparency, and alignment with the state’s broader social welfare policies.
“Funding is to be sourced through lawful budgetary allocations, grants and approved donations, in line with due process.
“Law No. 4 of 2025 is a bold and humane policy choice that places Abia State among progressive states that recognize ageing as a governance issue and institutionalize care for senior citizens.
“It is important to emphasize that the Abia State Senior Citizens Centre is not a free money distribution scheme.
“Rather, it is a structured social welfare and support system designed to provide care, coordination, dignity, and inclusion for senior citizens, not direct cash handouts.” #Otti Clarifies Abia Senior Citizens Establishment Law#
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