DICKSON SPENDS N720 MILLION ON ELDERS WELFARE

DICKSON SPENDS N720 MILLION ON ELDERS WELFARE

FOR the successful implementation of its welfare programme for the elderly, the Bayelsa State government disclosed that it currently spends about N65 million monthly, to cater for aged people, who have attained 70 years and above. 

  Governor Seriake Dickson disclosed that the beneficiaries belong to the vulnerable group in the society.

  While reaffirming his administration’s commitment to improving the quality of life of the people, the governor assured that more empowerment policies would soon be rolled out to drive the human capacity building process.

  Describing the elderly programme as novel in the history of the state, he noted; “One of the sections of our population that has been ignored before now are old people. All of us, you will agree with me are praying to grow old. We have a situation where, because of economic realities, people have to migrate from the villages to the urban areas to look for greener pastures and most of our parents and relations that are old are just left in the communities. That is not good.

   “I believe government must be committed to the welfare of the individual, especially the most vulnerable in society. So, I thought that we should have a welfare programme that should attend to these people. We are trying to do something for the women as well.”

  He noted that the programme is just a precursor to a more robust programme of empowerment policy that will unfold, adding that for the aged, who are 70 years and above, they are presently being paid N5, 000 every month and government spends N60m to N65m every month.

“That is a huge amount, because if you multiply N60m or N65m by the 12 months plus administrative cost, you find out that we are spending about N720m in a year. The state government has also re-launched the Bayelsa Volunteers, a community based intelligence-gathering unit as part of its youth empowerment programme,” he said.

  According to the governor, about 1,000 youths would be recruited as initial intake to kick-start the programme.

  “The volunteer programme will start with 1,000 youths and they will earn N15, 000 monthly. They will be selected through a rigorous process, which will be community based. An orientation course will be organised for them and they will have to stay in their communities.

  SOURCE; GUARDIAN

http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/news/national-news/164977-dickson-spends-n720m-on-elder-s-welfare