By Joy Odor Abuja
The Senate has drawn a hard line on Nigeria’s worsening social protection crisis, demanding increased funding for agencies battling human trafficking, disability exclusion and elderly neglect, declaring that “the nation cannot afford to look away.”
At a charged 2026 budget defence session on Tuesday, the Senate Committee on Special Duties, led by Senator Kaka Shehu Lawan, subjected three key agencies, the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD), and the National Senior Citizens Centre (NSCC) to intense scrutiny.
What emerged was a troubling portrait of rising trafficking cases, millions of Nigerians with disabilities without verified national data, and senior citizens facing shrinking welfare support, all against a backdrop of lean funding and operational strain.
Senator Lawan did not mince words as he confronted NAPTIP over the growing tide of human trafficking.
“I don’t see why trafficking should be increasing in Nigeria. Every day there are reports. We cannot fold our arms while this continues,” he declared.
The Committee described the trend as alarming, insisting that Nigeria must strengthen both victim protection and prosecution capacity if it is serious about ending the scourge.
NAPTIP officials told lawmakers the agency currently operates 15 shelters across the country, where rescued victims are housed, counselled, rehabilitated, trained and empowered before reintegration into society.
But behind that structure lies a fragile funding model.
While the agency funds shelter operations from its allocation, rehabilitation and empowerment programmes the very backbone of long-term recovery are largely financed by development partners.
“We are victim-centred.
Any victim we receive must be sheltered, counselled, trained and empowered before reintegration.
Most of the time, we rely on development partners to do this, which is not good enough,” the agency said, warning that the arrangement is unsustainable.
The Committee also ordered stronger collaboration between the Nigerian Police Force and NAPTIP, directing that trafficking cases handled at police formations must be promptly transferred to NAPTIP state commands for proper prosecution.
If the trafficking figures were disturbing, the revelation from the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities was equally sobering: Nigeria does not have credible national data on persons living with disabilities.
The Executive Secretary informed the Committee that while estimates suggest about eight million Nigerians live with disabilities, there is no verified figure from any government institution.
“We visited agencies including the National Population Commission, but there is no authentic number yet. We are working towards an accurate national count,” he explained.
Without reliable data, lawmakers noted, planning becomes guesswork and budgeting becomes speculation.
The Commission appealed for dedicated funds in 2026 to conduct a comprehensive national enumeration, arguing that credible statistics are indispensable for inclusive policies, targeted interventions and accountability.
Senator Lawan acknowledged the weight of the issue.
“If we help you, we are helping ourselves,” he assured, pledging legislative backing to strengthen the Commission’s mandate.
The National Senior Citizens Centre painted perhaps the most urgent picture.
Officials warned of widening funding gaps affecting healthcare access, nutrition programmes, and social protection for elderly Nigerians nationwide.
Even more alarming, the Centre disclosed that it faces an imminent accommodation crisis.
It is expected to vacate its current office facility soon, with no alternative space secured for over 140 staff members.
“We are confronted with an urgent accommodation challenge. We do not have sufficient care centres for the elderly, and healthcare coverage for senior citizens remains inadequate.
These interventions are not optional; they are essential to preserving dignity and quality of life,” the agency said.
The Centre called for ring-fenced allocations in the 2026 budget to support elderly nutrition, healthcare services, energy needs and welfare programmes at federal and state levels.
Senate Signals Budget Fight Ahead
Closing the session, Senator Lawan commended the agencies for persevering under difficult conditions and assured them that the Committee would push for stronger financial backing.
“We have noted your concerns and challenges. This committee will look into your problems and do the needful. We are committed to ensuring you receive the necessary support,” he said.
The budget defence session marked more than a routine legislative exercise.
It signalled a growing determination within the Senate to reposition social protection as a national priority not a peripheral concern.
With trafficking syndicates expanding, millions of persons with disabilities uncounted, and elderly citizens struggling for basic dignity, lawmakers appear ready to demand that the 2026 budget reflects the urgency of Nigeria’s social realities.
The message from the chamber was unmistakable: protection of the vulnerable is not charity, it is a constitutional duty.
