Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has signed into law a Senior Citizens Bill providing lifelong welfare support for indigenes aged 60 and above.

The new law guarantees a monthly stipend, full access to healthcare in public hospitals, and priority treatment in government services for eligible senior citizens across the state.

Otti signed the bill alongside 17 other legislations, describing the measure as a core part of his administration’s commitment to citizen-focused governance and social protection.

The governor had earlier repealed lifetime pensions for former governors and deputy governors, a move widely viewed as redirecting public resources from political elites to broader social welfare.

The Senior Citizens Law commits the state to sustained funding for social support programmes, particularly targeting elderly and vulnerable populations.

The initiative has attracted widespread praise on social media, with commentators describing it as a model of responsible and people-centred governance.

The development comes amid recent clarification by the Abia State Government over a budgetary formatting error related to a separate allocation, which officials said had no bearing on the new welfare law.

Analysts say the legislation positions Abia as a leading example of subnational welfare reform in Nigeria, especially at a time of economic pressure on households nationwide.