The Osogbo Grammar School Alumni Association (OGSAA) has said the senior citizens should be paid their gratuities at least two months after disengagement while monthly pensions should start the following month of their retirement.
The association’s National Vice President and Public Relations Officer PRO, Dr. Tola Winjobi made the call, on Thursday in Osogbo, at the launch of the maiden edition of ‘A Day With Senior Citizens’, an annual love feast programme for the elders of the association.
The programme was organised to recognise the senior citizens of the alumni as well as appreciate one another.
Winjobi said failure to deny these senior citizens their entitlements should be met with stringent sanctions according to the law.
According to him, there should be a policy on free health care services in all our health facilities across the country for all adults above 65 years of age.
Winjobi, who is also the Roving Coordinator, Elders’ Consultative Forum OGSAA said: ”It is not enough to disguise free health care or health insurance under mere free consultation; the free services should encompass free drugs and surgery as may be required. Health care policy for our aged should be comprehensive and free without let or hindrance.
“In addition, the retired civil servants should not be made to undergo the rigour of going to any government secretariat for ungodly verification exercise as many of them are no longer agile while some that make it often collapse at the verification centres. Instead, pension officers should visit those elders in their various homes to capture or update the data of the latter”.
He urged local governments to establish at least one senior citizen’s home per ward in each of the areas.
Winjobi said the homes of senior citizens should be equipped with relevant materials and assorted games tailored to the needs of old citizens so as to serve as a forum for them to recreate with fellow senior citizens.
He asserted: ”The executive of such old students’ association should organize a once in a year or twice a year or quarterly forum whereby these senior citizens would come together to felicitate with one another, play games together, throw banters, wine and dine so as not to only give them a sense of belonging but also to stem loneliness and prolong their lives.
“The children of these aged people should cultivate the habit of visiting their parents from time to time, spending quality time with them, putting smiles on their faces and supporting them in all ramifications possible rather than leaving their aged parents in the hands of wonton caregivers and careless neighbours. If such children are living far away they could arrange for trusted relations to be living with them”.
He said:”This is the maiden edition we are organizing this year by the Grace of God. We want our senior citizens to come together to reminisce on the past and enjoy themselves and thank God as well for making them to be alive”.
Gracing the occasion is Prof Adeyemi Mosadomi who was among the first set of Osogbo Grammar School that passed out in 1956. Also present is Prof. Michael Olufisayo Ologunde the first National President of Osogbo Grammar School Alumni Association who is also the former Vice Chancellor Ladoke Akintola University Ogbomosho, and Prof Solomon Fadiora the current National President of the association.
The event featured old people dancing to old tunes, playing assorted games such as ludo, ayo olopon, whot, draft, chess scrabble; health check, and health talk on old age and your health.