Police Fire Tear Gas at Pensioners During Protest at Lagos House
Pensioners in Lagos took their grievances to the state government on Monday as members of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP) and retirees under the Contributory Pension Scheme staged a protest at Lagos House in Ikeja.
The retirees were demanding the implementation of approved pension increases and wage awards, alongside the payment of outstanding pension arrears and other benefits they said were still owed to them by the Lagos State Government.
The pensioners gathered at the government premises to draw attention to what they described as delays in receiving their entitlements and to demand urgent intervention from the state authorities.
Protest Turns Tense as Police Deploy Tear Gas
The peaceful demonstration reportedly took a dramatic turn after police officers deployed tear gas at the protesting pensioners.
The action forced some of the retirees to flee the area as the atmosphere at Lagos House became tense.
The use of tear gas against the pensioners also triggered anger among protesters, who questioned why force was used against retirees who had gathered to demand the payment of their legally expected benefits.
Despite the disruption, the pensioners continued to press their demands, insisting that their concerns were centred on pension payments and other outstanding entitlements.
Pensioners Demand Payment of Arrears and Approved Increases
The retirees are seeking the implementation of pension-related increases and wage awards already approved for them, as well as the settlement of outstanding arrears.
They also want the Lagos State Government to address other unpaid benefits and resolve issues they say have continued to affect their welfare.
The protest comes after pensioners reportedly set August 31 as a deadline for the government to pay outstanding pension enhancements and wage awards.
With the deadline now reached, the retirees took their demands directly to Lagos House, hoping to secure action from the state government.
The confrontation with the police has, however, added another layer to the dispute, with the pensioners expressing dissatisfaction over how their demonstration was handled.
