By Foster Obi
The Abia State Government has clarified the intent and scope of Law No. 4 of 2025, which establishes the Abia State Senior Citizens Centre, describing it as a humane social protection policy designed to restore dignity and structured care for elderly citizens, not a political or cash-distribution programme.
In a statement on Tuesday, the Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, said the law was enacted in response to the growing population of senior citizens in the state and the long-standing absence of a government-backed system dedicated to their welfare, care, and social inclusion.
According to the government, the legislation reflects the compassionate vision of Governor Alex Chioma Otti, aimed at addressing the health challenges, social isolation, and economic vulnerabilities that often accompany ageing.
“For decades, senior citizens have contributed immensely to the development of our communities, economy, and families. Law No. 4 of 2025 is therefore a deliberate social protection policy, not political symbolism,” the statement said.
The government explained that the Senior Citizens Centre is neither a retirement home nor a place of abandonment, but a coordinated hub where elderly persons can access support services, engage socially, receive guidance, participate in recreational and skills-sharing activities, and benefit from structured welfare programs.
Through the Centre, the state now has a unified platform to plan, coordinate, and implement elderly-focused interventions, replacing what it described as a previously fragmented and informal approach to senior citizens’ welfare.
The Centre is mandated to promote the welfare, dignity, and quality of life of elderly persons by providing social, psychological, and health-related support, while also serving as an advocacy platform for the protection of their rights.
It is also empowered to develop programmes, maintain a reliable database of senior citizens, facilitate access to healthcare and social welfare schemes, and collaborate with relevant ministries, agencies, non-governmental organisations, faith-based institutions, and development partners.
Administratively, the Centre operates under the supervision of the Ministry of Poverty Alleviation and Social Protection, a structure the government said would ensure accountability, transparency, and alignment with broader state social welfare policies.
Funding for the Centre will be sourced through lawful budgetary allocations, grants and approved donations, in line with due process.
The government stressed that the Senior Citizens Centre is not a free money distribution scheme, but a structured welfare and support system designed to provide care, coordination, dignity and inclusion for elderly citizens across the state.
It described the law as a bold and progressive step that places Abia among states that recognise ageing as a governance issue and have institutionalised care for senior citizens.
