THE PLIGHTS AND DILEMMAS FACED BY RETIREES: A STUDY OF YAURI LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA IN KEBBI STATE

Research Problem: Retirement, ideally, is supposed to mark a period of leisure and reward for years after civil service. However, for many retirees, especially in developing nations like Nigeria, it often becomes a phase marked by uncertainty, financial instability, chronic diseases, loss of identity, absence of relatives around them, and emotional stress. Method/theory: The paper is qualitative phenomenological research with a sample size of five (5) participants selected from two areas of the study: Yelwa Central and Illela East. Key Informant Interview (KII) as adopted to collect data for the study. Nyanguru's theory was the study’s main theoretical guide. Results: The findings of the study revealed that retirees face numerous challenges, both health-related and financial issues, and in Nigeria, this dilemma is widespread, as retirement is often a struggle, not a period of leisure for retirees especially for the lower cadre. This situation contributes to serious health-related problems such as depression, hypertension, anxiety, loss of memory, and constant worry. Conclusion: The study concluded that retired individuals find it difficult to feed their families due to challenges related to their pension and gratuity, among others. Key Contribution to Knowledge: This study has contributed to the existing knowledge in the fields of medical sociology, geriatrics, gerontology, and social policy, as it has obtained the lived experiences of retired civil servants and their predicaments. Recommendations: The study recommends that the governments at the Local, State, and Federal sector levels should establish a ministry owned by retirees, where they can be retained to train newly recruited staff on how to handle their workplace responsibilities.