Buhari approves take-off from National Senior Citizens Center President Muhammadu Buhari approved the launch of the National Seniors Center with Dr Emem Omokaro as CEO and 12 members with immediate effect.
Malam Garba Shehu, the president’s senior special assistant for media and publicity, confirmed this in a statement in Abuja on Monday.
According to the presidential assistant, the approval is in accordance with Article 16 (2) (d) of the Nigerian Constitution of 1999 as amended, which mandates the state to provide adequate social services and improve the quality of life of the elderly.
The National Center for the Elderly was passed as the National Center for the Elderly Act of 2017 to meet the needs of the elderly (70 and over) in the country.
“To achieve this noble goal and ensure relevance and dissemination, people of proven integrity from key ministries and organizations have been appointed to the centre’s board of directors,” Shehu added.
Therefore, he said the president approved the appointment of retired AVM. MA Muhammad as Chairman of the Board, with Mansur Kuliya representing the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development as a member.
Dr Chris Osa Isokpunwu, representing the Federal Ministry of Health; Mr. Umar Abdullahi Utono, representing the Federal Ministry of Public Works and Housing; and Dr John Olushola Magbadelo, representing the Federal Ministry of Labor and Productivity, were also appointed members.
Other members include: Ms Bulus Friya Kimde, representing the Federal Ministry of Women’s Affairs; Mr. Sani Mustapha, representing the Transitional Pensions Directorate (PTAD) and Professor Usman Ahmed, representing the Geriatric Association of Nigeria.
The other members are Ms Victoria Onu, representing the Coalition of Societies for the Rights of Older Persons (CORSOPIN) and three other stakeholders, namely Dr Dorothy Nwodo, Professor Mohammed Namadi and Dr Emem Omokaro who is also Director General.
The president also approved the appointment of Ahmed Mustapha Habib as the new CEO of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to replace retired AVM Muhammad, now president of the National Senior Citizens Center.
“The appointments are for an initial period of four years,” the statement revealed.
