CSOs to Sanwo-Olu: Pay pensioners’ entitlements, stop police brutality

Michael Olumide Alabi

A coalition of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in Lagos State has condemned the alleged tear-gassing of pensioners who protested unpaid entitlements at the Lagos State House of Assembly, demanding an independent investigation into the incident and immediate payment of outstanding pension arrears.

The groups also accused the Lagos State Police Command of attempting to cover up the alleged incident following a reported denial by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Abimbola Adebisi, that the pensioners were tear-gassed.

In a statement issued on September 2, 2026, the coalition described the alleged use of force against elderly pensioners as “cruel, unacceptable, disgraceful” and an abuse of state power.

The statement was jointly 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).

According to the coalition, the pensioners, including members of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners and retirees under the Contributory Pension Scheme, had 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 CSOs alleged that the peaceful demonstration was disrupted when police officers fired tear gas at the pensioners, forcing some of the elderly protesters to flee.

The organisations demanded an independent investigation into the incident, insisting that the circumstances surrounding the alleged use of force must be established.

The coalition expressed particular concern over the reported denial by the Lagos State Police Command’s spokesperson that the pensioners were tear-gassed.

The organisations said eyewitness accounts, including that of a pensioners’ leader, contradicted the police position.

They argued that the appropriate response to allegations of police misconduct should be a transparent investigation rather than an outright dismissal of the claims.

“If the Police Command cannot acknowledge misconduct involving its own officers, how can ordinary citizens trust it to protect them?” the groups asked.

The coalition also criticised what it described as attempts to discredit elderly pensioners who publicly recounted their experiences during the protest.

It argued that elderly citizens who spent decades working and contributing to society deserved dignity and respect, particularly when seeking payment of what they described as their legitimate entitlements.

‘Why Use Force Against Elderly Pensioners?’
The CSOs questioned the circumstances that allegedly led to the deployment of tear gas against the protesters.

They asked whether the pensioners were armed or violent and what threat they posed that warranted the alleged use of force.

The coalition cited the account of Mr. Latif Salau, Deputy Chairman of the Nigerian Pensioners Practitioners of Lagos State, who reportedly narrated the pensioners’ experience to the media.

According to the groups, Salau said a senior police officer subsequently apologised after the incident and offered the pensioners sachet water and biscuits.

The coalition questioned why such an apology would have been made if, as alleged, no tear-gassing had taken place.

The groups also referred to reported comments attributed to Mr. Tayo Ayinde, Chief of Staff to the Lagos State Governor, concerning the incident.

They called for all accounts of the incident, including media reports and eyewitness testimonies, to be independently examined.
Demand Police Service Commission Investigation

The organisations called on the Police Service Commission (PSC) to investigate the conduct of the police spokesperson and other officers involved in the operation.

They said if it is established that any police officer deliberately misrepresented or concealed facts about an alleged assault on citizens, appropriate disciplinary measures should follow.

The groups also urged the Inspector-General of Police to establish an internal mechanism to review the operation of the Lagos State Police Command, particularly the role of the police hierarchy in ensuring discipline and responsible conduct.

They further called for the retraining of officers attached to the Command on the rights of peaceful protesters, proportionality, de-escalation and the appropriate use of force.

The CSOs said officers found to have authorised or used unlawful force against peaceful and vulnerable protesters should face appropriate disciplinary procedures and professional assessments.

The coalition described the alleged incident as part of what it considered a broader pattern of repression of civil rights in Lagos.

The groups recalled an earlier protest at the Lagos State House of Assembly on January 28, 2026, when residents protesting alleged illegal demolitions and forced evictions reportedly faced police action.

They alleged that tear gas was used against the protesters during that incident.
The coalition said the alleged recurrence of force against peaceful protesters raised questions about police crowd-control practices and respect for constitutional rights.

It also referenced the #EndSARS protests of 2020 and the #EndBadGovernance protests of 2024, arguing that lessons from previous crises should guide the handling of peaceful demonstrations.

The organisations stressed that citizens should be able to protest government policies and demand accountability without fear of police violence.

CSOs Tell Sanwo-Olu to Pay Pensioners
Beyond the alleged police action, the coalition called on the Lagos State Government to address the pensioners’ outstanding financial claims.

The groups said pension payments should not be treated as an act of generosity because the beneficiaries had earned the entitlements through years of service.

According to the statement, pensioners under the Defined Benefit Scheme are demanding 57 months of arrears arising from the 2019 consequential adjustment, as well as 12 months of arrears from the 20 per cent and 28 per cent increases approved in 2024 and the N32,000 wage award effective from January 2024.

Under the Contributory Pension Scheme, the groups said pensioners were demanding unpaid increases dating back to 2010, subsequent adjustments and the N32,000 wage award.

The coalition questioned why the dispute had persisted despite what it described as increased federal allocations to Lagos State.

It cited published analysis indicating that Lagos received N365.78 billion in FAAC disbursements in the first half of 2026, representing an increase from N236.92 billion during the corresponding period of 2025.

The CSOs called on the Sanwo-Olu administration to explain how the additional funds were being deployed and why pension obligations remained outstanding.

The coalition also expressed concern over reports that some pensioners had died while waiting for their outstanding payments.

The groups said prolonged delays could further worsen the difficulties faced by elderly retirees who depend on their pension benefits to meet basic needs.

They therefore urged Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to meet directly with pensioners’ representatives, condemn any police assault against them, pay undisputed arrears immediately and publish a clear, time-bound and enforceable plan for settling outstanding claims.

The organisations also called on the National Pension Commission (PenCom) and other relevant authorities to engage the Lagos State Government and pensioners’ representatives towards resolving the dispute.

The coalition said pensioners’ protests should be viewed within the context of citizens’ constitutional rights.

It cited Sections 39 and 40 of the Nigerian Constitution, which provide for freedom of expression and peaceful assembly, and Section 210, which provides constitutional protection for pension rights.

The groups argued that pensioners should not be intimidated, humiliated or silenced for peacefully demanding that the government fulfil its obligations.

They called on the Lagos State Government and the Nigerian Police Force to ensure that elderly citizens could exercise their rights without fear of intimidation or violence.

The coalition also appealed to media organisations to resist any form of intimidation or undue influence and to stand by reports that have been independently verified.

The CSOs concluded by demanding accountability and justice over the alleged incident, as well as urgent action to resolve the pensioners’ outstanding claims.

They stressed that elderly citizens who had spent their working years contributing to the development of Lagos State deserved to spend their retirement years with dignity rather than having to protest repeatedly for payment of their entitlements.

Efforts to obtain a reaction from the Governor’s media team were unsuccessful before the report was filed.