Coalition tackles police over alleged attack on elderly protesters, asks Sanwo-Olu to settle entitlements
A coalition of civil society organisations in Lagos has demanded an independent investigation into the alleged tear-gassing of protesting pensioners at the Lagos State House of Assembly, accusing the state police command of attempting to cover up the incident.
The groups also called on Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to immediately pay undisputed pension arrears and publish a clear, time-bound schedule for settling outstanding entitlements owed to retired workers.
The demand followed the August 31 protest by members of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners, including retirees under the Contributory Pension Scheme, at the Lagos State House of Assembly.
The pensioners had embarked on the protest following the expiration of a 19-day ultimatum over unpaid pension increases, wage awards and outstanding arrears.
The CSOs alleged that police officers fired tear gas at the elderly protesters, forcing them to flee. However, the Lagos State Police Command reportedly denied that tear gas was used.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the coalition described the alleged action as unacceptable and demanded an independent investigation into the incident.
The statement was signed by Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA), #EndBadGovernance Movement, Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR), Joint Action Front (JAF), Campaign for Democratic and Workers Rights (CDWR), Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC), Centre for Human & Socio-economic Rights (CHSR) and Precision, Electrical and Related Equipment Senior Staff Association (PERESSA).
The groups specifically urged the Police Service Commission to examine the conduct of the Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Abimbola Adebisi, over her reported denial that the pensioners were tear-gassed.
According to the coalition, the conflicting accounts surrounding the incident made an independent investigation necessary.
The CSOs cited the account of the Deputy Chairman of the Nigerian Pensioners Practitioners of Lagos State, Latif Salau, who reportedly said a senior police officer apologised to the pensioners after the incident and offered them sachet water and biscuits.
The groups also referred to reports that the Chief of Staff to the governor, Tayo Ayinde, apologised over the incident while absolving the state government of responsibility.
They questioned why such apologies were reportedly offered if, as the police maintained, tear gas was not fired at the protesters.
The coalition urged the Inspector-General of Police to review the operations of the Lagos State Police Command and retrain officers on the rights of peaceful protesters, de-escalation, proportionality and the appropriate use of force.
The groups argued that elderly pensioners demanding the payment of earned benefits did not constitute a threat requiring the use of force.
Beyond the alleged confrontation, the coalition urged the Lagos State Government to address the pension dispute, insisting that pension payments should not be treated as an act of government generosity.
According to the CSOs, retirees under the Defined Benefit Scheme are demanding 57 months of arrears arising from the 2019 consequential adjustment, 12 months of arrears from the 20 and 28 per cent pension increases approved in 2024, and the N32,000 wage award effective from January 2024.
For pensioners under the Contributory Pension Scheme, the coalition said outstanding demands include pension increases dating back to 2010, subsequent adjustments and the N32,000 wage award.
The organisations also questioned the continued accumulation of pension obligations despite increased federal allocations to Lagos State.
They cited published figures showing that Lagos received N365.78 billion in Federation Account Allocation Committee disbursements in the first half of 2026, compared with N236.92 billion during the corresponding period in 2025.
The coalition challenged the state government to explain how the additional funds were being deployed and why pension obligations remained outstanding.
The groups further claimed that pensioners’ representatives had reported deaths among members while awaiting payment, warning that prolonged delays could worsen the hardship faced by elderly retirees.
They called on Sanwo-Olu to meet directly with the pensioners, condemn any assault on them, pay undisputed arrears and publish an enforceable timetable for clearing outstanding liabilities.
The coalition also urged the National Pension Commission and other relevant authorities to intervene in the dispute.
It linked the August 31 incident to previous allegations of police use of force against protesters at the Lagos State House of Assembly, including an alleged crackdown on residents protesting demolitions and forced evictions on January 28, 2026.
The groups said the repeated allegations raised wider concerns over the protection of civil liberties in the state.
They urged the police and Lagos State Government to respect constitutional rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly, stressing that pensioners should not face intimidation for demanding benefits they believe are owed to them.
