Police Fire Tear Gas As Lagos Pensioners Protest Arrears

Police reportedly fired tear gas on Monday as Lagos pensioners protested at Lagos House and the Lagos State House of Assembly in Ikeja over unpaid pension increases, wage awards and arrears.

The protesters, drawn from the Nigeria Union of Pensioners and the contributory pension scheme, had gathered at the state government premises to demand implementation of approved pension increases and other benefits they said were still outstanding.

Two reports said the protest was disrupted when police officers fired tear gas, forcing some of the retirees to disperse and raising tension around the scene.

The pensioners had earlier given August 31 as a deadline for payment of outstanding pension enhancements and wage awards. Their demands include arrears linked to earlier pension adjustments, the 2024 approved increases and the N32,000 wage award for state pensioners.

The Lagos State Retirees Association, through its chairman Olarewaju Caleb, also rejected a position attributed to the Lagos State Pension Commission. The association said government figures on pension payments did not answer the complaints of retirees who still receive very low monthly pensions after decades of service.

Caleb asked Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to meet pensioners directly, saying some officials may not be giving the governor a full account of the dispute.

The protest adds pressure on Lagos authorities to explain how pension adjustments, arrears and welfare benefits are being handled for retired state workers.

Sources: Vanguard and Daily Post Nigeria.