Background--It is not known how socio-economic differentials affect the adequacy of care from children
among the elderly in Nigeria. This has become essential in order to improve the welfare of the elderly
population as well as to increase the life expectancy at birth among Nigerians. Reliable information is
required to initiate the much needed old peoples policy and as well as to formulate comprehensive social
security system for the elderly. Quantitative data was collected through individual-based questionnaire.
Multi-stage sampling procedure was employed to select local government areas, enumeration areas and
individuals for the study. In all, 810 respondents were interviewed. The study reveals that Christians are
82 percent less likely, traditionalists are 74 percent less likely to have reported adequacy of care from
children than Muslim respondents. In respect of marital status, while the currently married are 92 percent
less likely, the widowed are 91 percent less likely to have reported adequacy of care from children than the
divorced and separated. The idea that old-age security and well being in Nigeria should remain the
primary responsibility of the family is untenable. Government must assume the primary responsibility in a
partnership in which the family also continues to play a significant role.