Old citizen-beggars

However, with the introduction of colonialism in Africa, the social setting changed. The formal sector was introduced and with it came the idea of pensions. Unfortunately, the informal sector still takes the larger percentage of citizens and most do not enjoy the luxury of retiring with adequate pension arrangements to take care of their needs at old age. Sadly then, the number of destitute senior citizens keeps increasing, especially in the urban and semi-urban areas, far from the communal care and attention of whatever remains of the regular African tradition.

The increase in the number of senior citizen beggars is a social issue that is as disturbing as it is a fate that might await every young person. Old age, as the saying goes, is a rain that falls on every roof. What this means is that aging is not a choice just like rainfall is not a choice. So, the increase in the number of old citizen-beggars should be an issue that should worry individuals as much as it should worry the different tiers of government.

Read Also: EFCC hands over 753 housing units seized from ex-CBN Gov to ministry

Old age is a time of vulnerability when individuals suffer some degenerative age-related diseases; it is a time of physical loss of strength and sometimes even loss of mental stability. The introduction of the formal sector seems to have structured in pensions as one way of taking care of the financial needs of the aged, but at certain ages, financial issues become just one problem that needs a solution. Other issues like social, environmental and spiritual issues which also form parts of the existential realities must  be well taken care of for the aging to age gracefully and happy in ways they can still contribute their wisdom and experience to the development of the country.

With the number of destitute senior citizens around the country, questions must begin to be asked and solutions proffered in ways that can make aging attractive and functional. Culturally, the family units seem to be disintegrating. There is a shift from the communal spirit of most communities. The urban-rural migration and of recent, the moving-abroad (the ‘Japa’ syndrome) is separating children from their parents, and with migration comes a lot of challenges that often make some children more focused on finding their feet in new cities across the world with the attendant economic challenges.

Most of the migration issues are employment and work-related. Governments must take more interest in investing in rural communities in ways that can fill the employment gaps and make rural communities more attractive to the youths such that they are content to stay home and invariably become the primary care givers for their ageing parents the normal African style. That creates means of livelihood as they would be productive if the right infrastructures are provided. Many communities in developed countries have similar infrastructure that the people need. This makes internal or external migration not too attractive.

While there have been laudable policies by the Federal Government around pensions and some social welfare programmes for the old, there is still room for sustainable improvement. The increasing number of destitute senior citizens around the country clearly shows that more needs to be done. States like Lagos, Osun (during the Aregbesola era) and Abia (with Governor Alex Otti), Jigawa State under Gov. Umar Namadi) and Enugu State have all launched social schemes to help and support the aged with healthcare and other long-term social services.

We find it curious that some politicians, especially governors, have very extravagant post-office welfare schemes like having a lifetime pension (Gov. Otti of Abia recently signed a law nullifying that in his state), having choice properties paid for by the states and other perks of their offices while most civil servants die in line waiting for the meagre pensions. We believe that planning certain policies must have a national appeal and this can be done by the national and state legislators. A maximum of eight years in a political office must not be valued more than sometimes more than 30 years of public service.

The civil service is the heart of any national development and the way civil servants are treated in retirement discourages younger people from taking up public service. No matter how much of technology and AI we infuse into the system, the human element must be needed in the civil service for smooth running of the country. It is therefore encouraging to have social nets for that sector so as to make political contests less chaotic through the ‘do-or- die’ mentality, not for the desire to serve, but for the perks of the offices.

When it comes to old age, money is not the sole need. Most old people actually have little needs like food and medication; the social needs of bonding and entertainment are great contributors to their welfare. The tiers of government can set up old peoples’ relaxation centres where volunteers can go and entertain them. The 774 local governments can effortlessly set up these centres and not just care for the senior citizens but provide employment for care givers.

This would be a very productive way of recreating the old environmental needs of the senior citizens who often go out begging as a way of killing boredom. There must be a re-orientation of the people to reinvigorate the great African care-giving culture that colonialism seems to have been the knife that cut apart in the words of Achebe, “Things fall Apart”. The present generation must make aging more attractively productive because it is a debt many of us owe and must pay.