Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alliviation, Betta Edu says president Tinubu in his effort to fulfil campaign promises has directed her Ministry to reserve 10 percent of social safety net intervention to senior citizens. Edu made this known yesterday in Abuja through a statement from her media spokesperson, Rasheed Zubair.
The statement quoted the Minister while speaking in a forum during a stakeholders meeting to commemorate the 2023 National Day for Older persons in Nigeria.
The statement partly said, “Mr President has directed that my Ministry should set aside 10% of social safety net intervention programmes for older persons in the country.
“The rights of senior citizens in the areas of job security, health, livelihood, agriculture and other development planning must be considered.
“Presently, older persons are said to be about 14.8 million out of the entire population, that is why the President directed that in all our social welfare interfaces older persons must be involved,” she said.
The Minister reiterated the commitment of the federal government to make available all necessary support that will better their lives while they enjoy their old age.
Edu added, “The President also directed that those who are under the poverty line must be assisted and captured in the social interventions programmes.
“We would inaugurate two of such social intervention programmes with emphasis on senior citizens because we will be providing for senior citizens who are affected by humanitarian crises,” she said.