Assessment of the Living Conditions of Elderly Pensioners in Nigeria's Federal Capital Territory,Abuja.

Marcus Nengak Danjuma, Nasarawa state University Keffi,Nasarawa State

Many retired workers in Nigeria live in abject poverty and neglect, due to the failure of the country's pension system. The study assesses the living conditions of elderly pensioners aged 60 years and above in Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. Multi-stage systematic sampling technique and questionnaire was used to select 163 participants. Data was also sourced through Focus Group Discussions and In-depth interviews. The findings reveal that most participants were satisfied with their living arrangement and the support they received. Giving money to the old is a common practice with children as the major source of support. Majority reported challenges in accessing pension benefits and lack of awareness of any welfare policy for the elderly. Elderly pensioners adopted various strategies to deal with their pension challenges and were satisfied with their coping mechanism. Welfare policies should be designed to ensure that the elderly are financially secured in their old age.