ABIA GOVT SET TO IMPLEMENT SENIOR CITIZENS LAW

ABIA GOVT SET TO IMPLEMENT SENIOR CITIZENS LAW

David Maduako –Umuahia

In a bid to grant the protection of the Rights of Senior Citizens in Abía State , the state government say she has completed drafting of a policy manual on senior citizens law and set to have it implemented after presenting it to the general public .

The state Commissioner for Information Prince Okey Kanu stated this why briefing newsmen recently at the government house Umuahia on the outcome of the week’s Executive Council Meeting presided over by the state governor Dr Alex Chioma Otti .

He said the policy have since been signed into law in 2025 and shall be made open to the general public soon for onward implementation .
According to him, the policy draft was produced by the State Ministry of Poverty Alleviation and Social Protection for onward implementation of the Senior Citizens Law No. 4 of 2025.

The policy document he noted provides a detailed breakdown of the provisions of that law and the modalities for the execution of the law.

The Commissioner explained that clarifications on the policy document was necessitated following the need to correct certain misleading interpretations of the law by some sections of the public .

He further stated that the Senior Citizens Law was enacted to provide a pathway for the participation, security, independence and comprehensive care, and self dignity of the senior citizens, as it covers the health, mental and psychological needs of the senior citizens . He noted that it is not all about cash payment or cash point for the Senior Citizens but for an all encompassing activities of the senior citizens .

The activities he said cover among others, the celebration of Older Persons International Day, provision of housing support for the aged and the indigent and the displaced, health support for vulnerable older persons, financial assistance and social insurance for old people. and food and nutritional support to address specific needs of the Elderly people in the state .

The Commissioner noted that the Office of the First Lady and some relevant Ministries including certain MDAs
have been carrying out some activities for the welfare of senior citizens in the state.

In a similar development, the state government would soon introduce a new Economic policy to boost Micro , Small and Medium Scale Enterprises for rapid business growth in the state .He said the introduction of the new policy would be championed by the state ministry of Industry and SMEs and the policy shall be in line with the national policy on SMEs based on peculiarities of business in the state . He said the policy would be launched around September 2026 and is expected to launch Abia to the fore front in business development , correct rural -urban economic
imbalances and create job opportunities for the teeming youths of the state .

Prince Kanu explained that government would soon establish a Citizens Contact Centre for active participation of people in governance including communication and feed back Processes between people and government of the state .
He further disclosed the the Abia State University Teaching Hospital Aba ABSUTH have recovered full accreditation from West African Community of Physicians for the training of Doctors in Community Medicine. The accreditation has a duration of 5 years noting that the restored accreditation is as a result of the state governor’s revolution on the health sector which have continued to yield positive results in all facets of the sector.

He informed that the state government will be collaborating with AMPA to give free medical outreach from the 11th to 17th of April 2026 . He said there would be free medical consultations, free surgeries , free eye care and free medical training for medical personnels . While the venue for the outreach would be at Aba general hospital Aba , Abia Specialist Hospital Umuahia and Nkporo Cottage Hospital Nkporo. He hinted that the state ministry of health is collaborating with Jimmy Carter foundation to do free Hudrocell surgery , about 74 persons he said have so far registered for the surgery which will commence on Monday the 16th of April 2026 .

The Commissioner disclosed that government’ have commenced the payment of CONHESS salary Structure to Local Government Area Health Workers. This he said would strengthen health services at the rural areas of the state . Prince Kanu said the implementation of the ministry of health digital health services is on going while the construction of Ukwa East General Hospital have commenced and has a duration of nine months to be completed .
End .