A coalition of civil society organisations in Lagos has condemned the alleged tear-gassing of pensioners protesting unpaid entitlements at the Lagos State House of Assembly, accusing the state police command of attempting to cover up the incident.
The coalition also called on the Lagos State Government to immediately pay outstanding pension arrears and other entitlements owed to retirees, insisting that pension payments are earned rights and not acts of government benevolence.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the groups demanded an independent investigation into the alleged assault on the pensioners and the subsequent denial by the Lagos State Police Command.
The statement was signed by Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA), #EndBadGovernance Movement, Lagos State, Precision, Electrical and Related Equipment Senior Staff Association (PERESSA), Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR), Lagos State, Joint Action Front (JAF), Campaign for Democratic and Workers Rights (CDWR), Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC), and Centre for Human & Socio-economic Rights (CHSR).
The groups described the alleged use of tear gas against elderly pensioners as unacceptable, stressing that the retirees had gathered peacefully to demand payment of outstanding benefits.
They also faulted the Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Abimbola Adebisi, for reportedly denying that the pensioners were tear-gassed.
According to the coalition, eyewitness accounts, including that of a pensioners’ leader, contradicted the police position and warranted an independent investigation rather than a denial.
The groups particularly cited the account of the Deputy Chairman of the Nigerian Pensioners Practitioners of Lagos State, Mr Latif Salau, who reportedly told journalists that a senior police officer apologised to the pensioners after the incident and provided them with sachet water and biscuits.
The coalition questioned the circumstances surrounding the reported apology, asking why a police officer would apologise to the protesters if tear-gassing had not occurred.
It also referred to reports that Mr Tayo Ayinde, Chief of Staff to the Lagos State Governor, apologised for the incident while absolving the state government of responsibility.
The CSOs called on the Police Service Commission to examine the conduct of the police spokesperson and determine whether the command’s public communication accurately reflected events.
They further demanded that the Inspector-General of Police establish a mechanism to review the operations of the Lagos State Police Command, particularly its handling of peaceful protests.
The coalition said officers attached to the command should receive additional training on the rights of protesters, proportionality, de-escalation and the appropriate use of force.
It also urged disciplinary action against any officer found to have authorised or used unlawful force against peaceful protesters.
The groups recalled previous confrontations between protesters and security agencies at the Lagos State House of Assembly, including the January 28, 2026 protest by residents opposing alleged illegal demolitions and forced evictions.
They said the alleged incidents involving pensioners raised concerns about the repeated use of force against citizens exercising their constitutional rights to peaceful assembly and expression.
The coalition also referenced the #EndSARS protests of 2020 and the 2024 #EndBadGovernance protests, arguing that authorities needed to learn from previous crises and adopt more effective methods of managing demonstrations.
On the pension dispute, the groups said members of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners, including retirees under the Contributory Pension Scheme, gathered at the Lagos State House of Assembly on August 31, 2026, following the expiration of a 19-day ultimatum issued over unpaid pension increases, wage awards and arrears.
The coalition said pensioners under the Defined Benefit Scheme were demanding 57 months of arrears arising from the 2019 consequential adjustment, 12 months of arrears from the 20 and 28 per cent increases approved in 2024, as well as the N32,000 wage award effective from January 2024.
For retirees under the Contributory Pension Scheme, the groups said the demands included unpaid increases dating back to 2010, subsequent adjustments and the N32,000 wage award.
The coalition also questioned the continued delay in settling the obligations despite increased federal allocations to Lagos State.
It cited published analysis showing that Lagos received N365.78 billion in Federal Account Allocation Committee disbursements in the first half of 2026, representing a 54.39 per cent increase from the N236.92 billion received during the corresponding period of 2025.
The groups urged the Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu administration to explain how the additional funds were being deployed and why pension obligations remained outstanding.
They further expressed concern over reports that some pensioners had died while waiting for their entitlements, warning that prolonged delays could worsen the hardship faced by elderly retirees.
The coalition urged Governor Sanwo-Olu to meet with pensioners’ representatives, condemn any alleged police assault, pay undisputed arrears and publish a clear, time-bound schedule for settling outstanding claims.
It also called on the National Pension Commission and other relevant agencies to intervene in resolving the dispute between the state government and pensioners.
The CSOs reminded the Lagos State Government and the Nigeria Police Force that Sections 39 and 40 of the 1999 Constitution protect freedom of expression and peaceful assembly, while Section 210 provides for the protection of pension rights.
They maintained that pensioners should be allowed to peacefully demand the fulfilment of government obligations without intimidation or harassment.
The coalition also urged the media to resist any attempt to intimidate journalists or discredit reports on the incident, stressing the importance of independent reporting and accountability.
The groups said the alleged treatment of the pensioners should serve as a reminder that elderly citizens who spent their working years serving the state deserve dignity, accountability and prompt payment of their lawful entitlements.
