AN organization of senior citizens of Nigeria, Lieber Unity Friendship Foundation (LUF) has called on the Federal Government to create a ministry for the elderly. This call was made by Founder and General Secretary of the foundation, Kelvin Lawrence, at its first quarterly meeting and health check, which took place in Surulere, Lagos on Saturday.
While addressing the elderly at the event, Lawrence lamented the plight of senior citizens in the country, asking how it could be resolved.
He further said that the LUF foundation had entered the year 2013 with greater determination to find a lasting solution to the social and economic problems of retired Nigerian workers, including the aged and the elderly in the society.
“We are more concerned with the critical situation, where the cost of living is becoming unbearable,” he said.
Lawrence resolved that something drastic must be done this year to provide effective relief to the retired workers.
According to him: “The rate at which the elderly are dying in the society, as a result of inadequate healthcare and poverty, is quite alarming and embarrassing to the country.”
He lamented the poor attitude of political office- holders towards the elderly, while further calling on the Federal Government to establish a ministry for the elderly to ensure better attention for them.
Lawrence explained that LUF was set up to improve the health and economic conditions of the elderly, create a forum for interaction among them, create a forum for the advancement of the care of the elderly, assist them to engage in simple business activities to mitigate the ravaging poverty as well as mobilize to stop the incessant delays in payment of the benefits and other entitlements and advocates for the right of the elderly.
“Bear in mind that no matter how strong you may be today, one day, you will surely grow old. Also bear in mind that no matter how long you may wish to work in your offices, one day you will retire or be retired,” he asserted.
Author of this article: By Adunola Adeniyi and Tolulope Okunlola
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