By Fatima Ndagi
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rep. Abbas Tajudeen, has endorsed a landmark bill seeking to guarantee free healthcare, tax exemptions, monthly stipends and stronger legal protections for older persons across the country.
Tajudeen offered his support on Wednesday in Abuja while delivering a keynote address at a public hearing on the Older Persons (Rights and Privileges) Bill, organised by the House Committee on Women Affairs and Social Development, chaired by Hon. Kafilat Ogbara.
The Speaker said the proposed legislation was necessary because existing frameworks — including the National Senior Citizens Centre Act of 2018 — had failed to fully safeguard the welfare of elderly Nigerians.
“This bill is an attempt to provide comprehensive protection for the specific rights of older citizens and to safeguard their welfare,” Tajudeen said. “Current legal frameworks are fragmented, incomplete and largely unenforceable. This bill provides older people with enforceable rights and a means of seeking restitution when those rights are breached.”
He noted that although the Constitution protects citizens from discrimination, it does not address the “peculiar injustices” faced by older persons, including poverty, neglect, health challenges and social isolation.
“As traditional family support systems weaken, we must provide a formal legal structure that protects the aged from abuse,” he added.
According to Tajudeen, the bill seeks to cushion the effects of joblessness, loneliness, insecurity, retirement pressures and rising medical costs. Its key provisions include free medical care in public hospitals, tax reliefs, monthly stipends for indigent elderly persons and safeguards against abandonment.
Committee Chair Hon. Kafilat Ogbara described the bill as “society giving back,” saying it would uphold the dignity and wellbeing of older Nigerians.
“Older persons often face unique challenges that affect their health, economic stability and social engagement. This legislation tackles these issues head-on by establishing a framework that guarantees their rights and protections,” she said.
Also at the hearing, National Social Investment Programme Agency (NSIPA) National Coordinator, Badamasi Lawal—represented by Dr. Nsikak Okon—urged lawmakers to harmonise the bill with the National Senior Citizens Centre Act to ensure seamless implementation.
The National Pension Commission (PenCom), represented by Barr. Martins Ikagu, welcomed the bill as a positive step toward strengthening Nigeria’s social security system but recommended key amendments. These include clarifying funding sources for monthly stipends, correcting ambiguous clauses, and removing discriminatory provisions that exclude beneficiaries already covered by pension and insurance laws.
“Some sections are incoherent and require review for correctness and contextual relevance,” Ikagu said. “Excluding persons covered by the Pension Reform Act contradicts the Constitution and deprives them of rights such as education, work, accessibility aids and priority in emergencies.”
PenCom urged lawmakers to revise the contentious sections to ensure the legislation is inclusive, implementable and constitutionally compliant.