Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, is receiving widespread praise after signing a new Senior Citizens Bill into law, a policy many Nigerians say could change how the country treats its elderly.
Under the new law, Abia residents aged 60 and above will receive lifetime welfare benefits.
This includes:
• A free monthly stipend
• Free medical treatment at government hospitals
• Additional social support programs for elderly citizens
The goal is simple: ensure that people who spent decades building the state can retire with dignity instead of hardship.
Speaking during the signing ceremony, Otti described senior citizens as “the pillars upon which the state was built.”
According to him, the bill is part of his administration’s commitment to improving social welfare and protecting vulnerable citizens.
Since taking office in Abia State, Otti’s government has already been credited with several reforms.
Residents and observers have pointed to:
• Improved healthcare infrastructure
• Cleaner towns and better sanitation
• Upgraded medical facilities
A committee from Nigeria’s House of Representatives even described the progress in Abia’s healthcare sector as “unprecedented.”
Many retirees in Abia have welcomed the new law, saying it could significantly improve their lives.
Some pensioners recalled how things were under previous administrations, years of unpaid pensions and abandoned welfare programs.
According to members of the Concerned Abia Pensioners, there were times when pensioners had to hold meetings in open fields because their offices were locked.
Now, many of them see the new Senior Citizens Bill as something deeper than just financial support.
To them, it represents a restoration of dignity.
However, the pensioners also reminded the governor about his 2025 promise to clear outstanding gratuities, expressing hope that the commitment will be fulfilled soon.
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Why This Policy Is Getting Attention
Across much of Nigeria, and even many parts of Africa, elderly citizens often face major challenges:
• Delayed pensions
• Poor healthcare access
• Lack of reliable welfare systems
In many cases, families, religious groups, and communities are left to fill the gap.
What makes Abia’s new law stand out is that it attempts to institutionalize long-term support rather than offering temporary relief.
For many observers, it raises an important question:
Should other Nigerian states adopt similar welfare programs for their elderly citizens?
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Receipt
https://biggistdaily.com/breaking-g...over-60-a-monthly-salary-and-free-healthcare/
