Lagos State retirees protesting delayed pension payments were met with tear gas on Monday as security operatives moved to disperse the demonstrators at the entrance of the state government secretariat in Alausa.
The pensioners had marched from the Shoprite area towards the Lagos State Governor’s Office to demand the payment of outstanding pension increases, wage awards and other entitlements. What started as a peaceful protest became tense after police fired tear gas at the retirees.
The development angered the pensioners, who said they had no intention of causing trouble but were only demanding payments they believed were legally due to them after years of service to the state.
Following the incident, the retirees announced that they would no longer limit their protest to a peaceful demonstration. They vowed to remain around the government premises indefinitely until the Lagos State Government responds to their demands.
The protesters accused Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and members of his administration of delaying payments owed to pensioners under the state payroll.
According to the retirees, some outstanding benefits include adjustments arising from pension increases and wage awards that have not been fully paid to affected pensioners.
One of the protesters said the situation was particularly painful for retirees who had spent decades working for the Lagos State Government.
He claimed that retirees who left service on Grade Levels 1 to 6 had received certain payments, while pensioners who retired at higher grade levels were still waiting for adjusted arrears.
The pensioner questioned why the outstanding payments had remained unresolved despite the length of time retirees had been waiting.
“This is a state that prides itself as the Centre of Excellence, but it is now becoming a centre of abuse,” he said.
The dispute has continued to draw attention to concerns surrounding the welfare of pensioners under the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS), particularly those who say they are still waiting for adjustments and benefits promised by the government.
The pensioners had previously given the Lagos State Government a 19-day ultimatum to address their demands. They warned that failure to pay the outstanding pension increases and wage awards would lead to further action.
Michael Omisande, chairman of the National Union of Pensioners under Contributory Pension Scheme (NUPCPS), Lagos State Council, said the union had formally communicated its concerns to the governor.
Omisande said the retirees had dedicated several years of their lives to public service and should not be forced to struggle before receiving their entitlements.
He condemned the use of tear gas during the protest, saying it had changed the position of the pensioners.
“We warned the government, but they tear-gassed us. The protest is now indefinite until our demands are met,” Omisande said.
The union chairman maintained that the retirees would continue pressing for a resolution until the outstanding payments were addressed.
For the pensioners, the protest is not simply about money but about receiving the benefits they say they earned through decades of service. They are now calling on the state government to engage with their representatives and resolve the dispute before the situation escalates further.
The latest development places renewed focus on pension administration in Lagos and the need for timely payment of retirement benefits, particularly as retirees depend largely on their pensions to meet daily living expenses after leaving active service.
