General News
UNIDOP 2026: COSROPIN Seeks Social Welfare Package For Older Persons In Informal Sector
The Federal Government has promised to strengthen policies and programmes that will respond to older persons’ vulnerabilities, boost their resilience and promote their inclusion in national development efforts.
The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr. Benard Doro made the promise in Abuja during the Grand Finale of the 2026 United Nations International Day of Older Persons, UNIDOP.
Dr. Benard Doro who was represented by an Assistant Director, Social Development Secretariat in the Ministry, Mrs Ikem Helen said the Federal Government recognized the importance of placing older persons at the centre of humanitarian intervention, poverty reduction strategies and social protection initiatives.
“We also acknowledge the vital role of families, caregivers, civil society organizations, development partners and all levels of government in ensuring that older persons receive the care, respect and support they deserve because building systems for longer lives requires a whole -of-society approach that values ageing not as a burden but as a natural stage of life deserving of dignity, opportunity and protection” He added
Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice, Mrs Beatrice Jedy- Agba pledged her Ministry’s commitment to legal framework that would ensure social justice for older persons in the country.
Mrs Beatrice Jedy–Agba who was also represented by an Asst. Chief State Council, Emem Obong stressed the need for Nigerians to always respect the rights of older persons in the country.
In their separate goodwill messages, the Executive Secretary, National Human Rights Commission, NHRC, Dr Tony Ojukwu, the FCT Commandant of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, Dr. Olushola Odumosu and the Permanent Secretary, Social Service Development Secretariat, Federal Capital Development Authority, FCDA, Mrs Olubunmi Olowookere congratulated older persons on the occasion of this year’s United Nations International Day of Older Persons.
They also commended COSROPIN for its constituency in promoting the well-being and rights of older persons in the country.
Earlier, the President of Coalition of Societies for the Rights of Older Persons in Nigeria, COSROPIN, Senator Eze Ajoku, OFR, who said COSROPIN has forwarded its Bill on the protection of rights of older persons in Nigeria to the National Assembly called on the Lawmakers to ensure speedy passage of the Bill to further enhance the well-being of older persons nationwide.
He also called for Social Welfare Package for older persons’ in the informal sector such as bricklayers, carpenters among others to enable them cater for themselves and their families.
The President of COSROPIN particularly urged State Governments to consider the payment of monthly stipends to older persons in the informal sector just like what the Abia State Government is doing nothing that this would go a long way to ameliorate their challenges.
While commending the Federal Government for regular payment of pension to retirees, the President of COSROPIN advised State Governments to also give priority to the well-being of retirees in their States.
“”Every older person was once young. Every pensioner was once an active worker. Every elderly farmer once cultivated the land with strength. Every ageing mother once carried and nurtured her children therefore ageing is not a failure but a natural progression of life and indeed, a privilege denied to too many ” He stated
In his words”What we owe our older persons is not merely an annual celebration, but a society that protects their dignity everyday of the year therefore let us work towards a Nigeria where no retired worker is denied an earned pension, where no vulnerable older person is abandoned because of poverty, where ageing does not mean exclusion from healthcare, and where our older citizens can live their remaining years with dignity, security and peace “.
Goodwill messages were also delivered from Representatives from Ministry of Health, National Council for Women Development, NCWD, and National Orientation Agency, NOA.
The 2026 UNIDOP grand finale which featured road walk, talk show, goodwill messages was also attended by sch.ool children who presented special performance for older persons’