The United Nations Independent Expert on the enjoyment of all human rights of older persons, has commended Nigeria on the National Senior Citizens Centre (NSCC) extensive National Stakeholders Consultative Forum on Ageing.
The UN Independent Expert, Dr. Claudia Mahler said this at a meeting with Oyo, Benue and Lagos States NSCC National Stakeholders Consultative Forum as well as an interactive session with all co-chairs from 34 States, virtually.
Mahler described the platform as a very good model of stakeholder engagement with States and local governments.
She said the forum is also a driver for high level advocacy involving Royal Fathers, Traditional Institutions, Faith Based Organizations, Pensioners Union, Association of Older Persons, Private Sector, Civil Society Organizations, Experts in Ageing, Research and Academia, which are all represented in the consultative forum as members.
The meeting covered governance structure, partnerships with States and local governments and processes of domesticating the National Senior Citizens Centre Act and National Policy on Ageing and the progress so far made.
Mahler also noted that she was particularly happy to see that Civil Society Organizations in Nigeria were recognized by the National Senior Citizens Centre and included as stakeholders.
“This collaborative network is housed in the National Senior Citizens Centre as an engagement mechanism and purpose vehicle for advocacy and programs alignment and execution in partnership with the States” she said.
“The operations of the stakeholders representing all the States and the Federal Capital Territory, shall in all respect be administered in accordance with the development model and rights-based thematic activities in the NSCC act to be domesticated in all States for sustainable and equitable inclusion of Senior Citizens in Development Agendas and budgets” she added.
Emmanuel Ukoh
