By Tekena Amakiri.
Barring any last minute procedural delay, the Cross River State Senior Citizen Center Bill, 2025, once given accent by the
Executive governor of the state, Sen. Prince Bassey Edet otu, will become law.
The Bill, sponsored by Hon. Mercy Mbang Akpama, house member representing Yakurr 2 State Constituency and the only female legislator in the Cross River State 10th assembly, has taken over two long years in its
meticulous framing, reviews, processes, tireless lobbying among colleagues and groups for it to eventually have its day.
Though a domestication of the National Senior Citizens Act which was signed into law on January 28, 2018, by former President Mohammed Buhari, with the aim at catering to the needs of Nigerian senior citizens, particularly those aged 70 and above,
the CRS Senior Citizen Center Bill 2025, in its own version, draw back the age demography by a decade.
You will be considered a valid senior citizen in the state once you clock 60 and above.
The bill which seeks to cater for the needs of senior citizens in the state and other related matters, was read the first time on Tuesday 1st August 2023 and second time on Thursday 10th August, 2023 before being referred to the House Committee on Judiciary, Public Service Matters, Public Petitions and Conflict Resolution.
Presenting the report of the Committee, the Chairman and Deputy Leader of the 10th Assembly, Rt Hon. Davies Etta, representing Abi State Constituency, highlighted the many merits of the bill,with emphasis on how it hopes to bring succour to the elderly who lack both the social or financial need to take care of themselves.
” The bill seeks to establish a home for the elderly people who can no longer take care of themselves. It is true that most elderly people, both men and women are found roaming the streets because they have no home or cannot fend for themselves.. some are termed witches or wizards and forcefully ostracized from their homes.
” The intent of the bill is to ensure that a home known as Center will be provided for the elderly to stay in order to give them comfort and access to both medical and recreational facilities.” Etta informed.
Defending her preference for choosing this bill among other social issues, the Yakurr 2 representative and Co Chair/Facilitator of the National Senior Citizen Center in Cross River state, noted she drew inspiration from her Christian faith, as well as her numerous humanitarian dealings with older persons.
” We are part of the society and we aspire to get to certain levels. When you witness how the elderly are treated around you, especially during unannounced visits, one will be shocked at what you see. I have been privileged in visiting all the Continents of the world and I know how their senior citizens are catered for, with care, respect and dignity. Coming home, you now see, like in a queue, a senior citizen will even be pushed out and nobody cares. The idea here is, when we domesticate this bill here in the state, people will become guided by law, on how they relate with the elderly”.
Akpama went on to explain other challenges faced by senior citizens, even in public spaces and frowned at the rising cases of abandonment by families, who rather than celebrate the graceful ageing of their parents or relatives now term them as witches or wizards, responsibile for their perceived misfortune.
” Our public spaces are not age friendly. You go to families and what do you see? When you are growing old, rather than being celebrated, you are rather labeled a witch or wizard and maltreated. We have several reported cases like these across the state. It is a sorry situation and something need to be put in place to protect our elderly because some day we too will fall into that category”.
Hon. Akpama expressed her gratitude to the Speaker, Rt Hon Elvert Ayambem, the Judiciary Committee Chairman and members, as well as her colleagues for their efforts in ensuring that the bill was passed into Law.
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