Exploring the socio-economic challenges and wellbeing in the post-retirement life of older people in southeast zone of Nigeria

Abstract

The study examined the socio-economic challenges and wellbeing in the post-retirement life of senior citizens in the southeast zone of Nigeria. The study was purely qualitative and utilized the Focus Group Discussion (FGD) in collection of data from 64 participants (60 years and above) who were purposively chosen from four council areas of Ebonyi and Enugu state, southeast, Nigeria. The ecological system theory formed the theoretical linkage. Participants’ view revealed that life after retirement in Nigeria has become shrouded with suffering, financial hardship and poverty as none of the participants do not have arrears of unpaid pension entitlement to claim. It was revealed that as a result of the meager nature of pension and delays in payment, retirees find it difficult to cope with their socio-economic obligations which ultimately affect their wellbeing. Participants attributed the situation to government’s insensitivity on wellbeing of older persons and the increasing rate of corruption among the ruling class. The study therefore recommended among others, the need for a policy reform in Nigerian pension industry that will enable social workers and other human service professionals/ stakeholders in both public and private sectors to ensure that life after retirement blossoms out instead of being seen as a death trench.

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Abonyi, S. E., Arinde-Simeon, T. & Onwuka, C. C. (2023). Exploring the socio-economic challenges and wellbeing in the post-retirement life of older people in southeast zone of Nigeria. African Journal of Social Work, 14(1), 1-11. https://dx.doi.org/10.4314/ajsw.v14i1.1

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