Abia State Government has stated that the Senior Citizens Centre was not a free money distribution scheme, but a structured social welfare and support system designed to provide care, coordination, dignity, and inclusion for senior citizens-not direct cash handouts.
Okey Kanu, commissioner for Information, in a statement said that the clarification became necessary in order to properly inform the public and dispel misconceptions surrounding the law Number 4 of 2025, which established the Abia State Senior Citizens Centre.
Kanu noted that the legislation was a deliberate and compassionate response by the administration of Governor Alex Otti to the growing population of elderly persons in Abia State and the long-standing absence of a structured, government-backed system dedicated to their care, welfare, and social inclusion.
Highlighting the contributions of senior citizens over the decades, he added that ageing often comes with health challenges, social isolation, and economic vulnerability.
He emphasised that Law No. 4 of 2025 was a social protection policy, not political symbolism, aimed at restoring dignity, care, and relevance to elderly citizens.
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According to him, the law formally establishes the Abia State Senior Citizens Centre, as a government-recognised institution, stressing that the Centre is not a retirement home or a place of abandonment.
Kanu added that the centre serves as a coordinated hub where senior citizens can access support services, engage socially, receive guidance, participate in recreational and skills-sharing activities, and benefit from structured welfare programmes.
Through the Centre, the State Government now has a unified platform to plan, coordinate, and implement elderly-focused interventions across the State, replacing the previously fragmented and informal approach to senior citizens’ welfare.
Kanu explained that the Centre is mandated to promote the welfare, dignity, and quality of life of senior citizens by providing social, psychological, and health-related support, while also serving as an advocacy platform for the protection of their rights.
“It is empowered to develop programmes, maintain a reliable database of elderly persons, facilitate access to healthcare and social welfare schemes, and collaborate with relevant ministries, agencies, NGOs, faith-based organisations, and development partners.
“Administratively, the Centre operates under the supervision of the Ministry of Poverty Alleviation and Social Protection to ensure accountability, transparency, and alignment with the state’s broader social welfare policies.
“Funding is to be sourced through lawful budgetary allocations, grants, and approved donations, in line with due process.”
He noted that the Law No. 4 of 2025, is a bold and humane policy choice that places Abia State among progressive States that recognise ageing as a governance issue and institutionalise care for senior citizens.
