Pensioners in Lagos State have taken their grievances to the Lagos House in Ikeja, demanding the payment of outstanding pension arrears, approved pension increases and wage awards.
The protesters, drawn from the Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP) and retirees under the Contributory Pension Scheme, gathered at the state government premises on Monday to demand action on benefits they said had remained unpaid.
Their demands include the implementation of approved pension enhancements and wage awards, as well as the settlement of arrears and other entitlements owed by the Lagos State Government.
The protest reportedly became tense after police officers fired tear gas at the retirees gathered at the Lagos House. The action forced some of the pensioners to leave the area as the demonstration was disrupted.
The protesters expressed anger over what they described as the use of force against elderly citizens who had gathered to demand their entitlements. They maintained that their action was focused on securing payment of benefits already due to them.
The pensioners had previously issued August 31 as a deadline for the payment of outstanding pension enhancements and wage awards. The latest demonstration came as that deadline expired without the retirees’ demands being resolved, according to reports.
The dispute highlights the continuing concerns among retired public workers over delayed pension payments and the impact of unpaid benefits on their welfare. The pensioners are now seeking direct intervention from the Lagos State Government to resolve the outstanding issues.
Further details on the government’s response to the protest and the circumstances surrounding the reported use of tear gas were not immediately available.
