A Bill which seeks to provide certain rights and privileges for elderly persons in the country, on Tuesday scaled second reading in the Senate.
The Bill however imposed a N2 million fine on organizations and N200, 000 on individuals or 6 months imprisonment or both for discriminating against aged persons.
The Bill titled: “Older persons (rights and privileges) Bill 2019” was sponsored by Senator Francis Onyewuchi (Imo East).
Onyewuchi in his lead debate said that the Bill seeks to provide for the health, economic reliefs and protection for old persons social and civil rights.
He said: “Elderly or Older Persons are generally defined according to a range of characteristics including: chronological age, change in social role and changes in functional abilities. Most developed countries of the world have accepted the chronological age of 65 years as a definition of ‘elderly’ or older person.
“While this definition is somewhat arbitrary, it is many times associated with the age at which one can begin to receive pension benefits.
“The fast-growing number of older adults during the last few decades have impacted significantly on the political, economic, and social functions of societies in both industrialized and developing regions.
“According to the Population Division of the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, the proportion of older persons aged 60 years and above make up 12.3% of the global population, and by 2050 that proportion will rise to almost 22%.
