By Anamati Inyang, November 19, 2025
The House of Representatives has expressed strong support for a bill aimed at providing free medical services in government facilities, tax exemptions, and stipends for senior citizens across Nigeria.
Speaker of the House, Hon Abbas Tajudeen, gave the assurance on Wednesday in Abuja while delivering a keynote address at a public hearing on the Older Persons Rights and Privileges Bill, 2025. The event was organised by the Committee on Women Affairs and Social Development, chaired by Hon Kafilat Ogbara, to discuss legal protections and social benefits for older citizens.
Highlighting the importance of formalising support for the aged, Hon Tajudeen noted that while many of these benefits were previously covered by traditional family structures, the new bill would create a legally binding framework to prevent abuse and neglect.
“This Older Persons Rights and Privileges Bill is necessary because existing laws, like the National Senior Citizens Centre Act 2018, do not fully address the unique needs of older persons. Their rights are often ignored or abridged by family members, public institutions, and society at large,” he said.
The bill seeks to provide a comprehensive legal framework to protect senior citizens’ social, economic, and civil rights. Proposed provisions include free healthcare in government facilities, tax relief, monthly stipends, and safeguards against abandonment.
“The legislation examines the challenges of joblessness, loneliness, poverty, health issues, and retirement pressures faced by older persons, and ensures mechanisms are in place to improve their well being and social inclusion,” Tajudeen added.
Chairperson of the House Committee on Women Affairs and Social Development, Hon Kafilat Ogbara, described the bill as a reflection of society’s responsibility to give back to older citizens, guaranteeing them dignity, respect, and essential support.
Experts and stakeholders attending the public hearing, including representatives from the National Social Investment Programme Agency and National Pension Commission, recommended harmonising the bill with existing laws for smoother implementation and ensuring provisions are clear, enforceable, and non discriminatory.
Key recommendations included clarifying funding sources for stipends, ensuring accessibility provisions are coherent, and extending protections to beneficiaries of other social security programs without exclusions.
The House emphasised that once enacted, the bill would grant senior citizens legally enforceable rights, allowing them to seek restitution through the courts if these rights are violated, and establishing a modern framework for social welfare and protection of older Nigerians.
