The Federal Government, has met with officials of Deposit Money Banks and other related institutions in Abuja, on Tuesday, 27th June 2023, to plan for the production of functional three-in-one identity cards for older citizens across the country.
Speaking at the Roundtable Meeting with Banks on the Production of Senior Citizens Identity Cards, the Director-General, National Senior Citizens Centre, Emem Omokaro, said the initiative would improve the quality of life of older persons across the country in various ways.
Omokaro, called for public-private partnerships in the production of the ID cards saying;
“This roundtable meeting, we hope, being a joint novel and maiden meeting on funding possibilities for the production of functional and seamless (three-in-one) identity cards for senior citizens, would provide equal opportunity for all present to contribute your perspectives and ideas to the national project.“
The National Senior Citizens Centre’s vision is a multi-purpose card that would serve as a vehicle for financial inclusion, conducive economic and social enterprise empowerment instrument and access to age-friendly physical environment outcomes for Nigeria’s senior citizens – a population most left behind,” she stated.
The Director, Active Ageing and Support Services, NSCC Kayode Fagbemi, outlined the benefits of the multipurpose ID cards for the senior citizens.
“The ID card is expected to provide unique benefits to the senior citizens in the following ways: The cards will be multipurpose cards as they will serve as both national identity cards, bank cards, and senior citizens cards.“
It contains vital information about the senior citizen. For travel benefits, senior citizens should be able to enjoy concessions on railway tickets.
Separate counters or queues should be available for booking tickets.
“Airlines should be able to offer discounts on domestic flights. Separate counters or queues should be available for booking tickets. Public transport in the states should be able to offer discounts for senior citizens,” he stated.
Fagbmi said the objectives of the roundtable include to work out modalities for the printing of identity cards for senior citizens of Nigeria above the age of 60 as it is expected to provide unique benefits to senior citizens in several ways.
Story: Christy Dung