A protest by Lagos pensioners over unpaid pension adjustments and wage awards ended in chaos yesterday after policemen used tear gas to disperse the elderly retirees at the Lagos House and Lagos State House of Assembly in Ikeja, even as the National Pension Commission, PenCom, began engagement with state authorities on the disputed payments.
The pensioners, under the Nigeria Union of Pensioners, NUP, had marched from their respective zones to the government premises carrying placards and singing solidarity songs.
The demonstration was aimed at demanding payment of outstanding pension arrears, approved pension increases, wage awards and other benefits.
Protest disrupted at government premises
Tension rose when policemen attached to the Lagos State Command reportedly fired tear gas at the protesters. The action scattered the gathering and resulted in chaos and injuries among some of the elderly citizens.
The pensioners had accused the Lagos State Government of delaying the implementation of pension adjustments and wage awards they said had been approved by the Federal Government.
Their demands also included payment of outstanding arrears linked to the pension enhancements. They said the delay had created financial hardship for retirees who depend on their pensions for basic needs.
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Chairman of the NUP Lagos State Council, Olufemi Olanrewaju, said the continued delay amounted to injustice against retired workers.
Olanrewaju alleged that more than 2,000 pensioners had died while waiting for their outstanding entitlements. He also said hundreds of others were sick and struggling to afford healthcare and other basic needs.
He questioned why the Lagos State Government had not implemented the payments after receiving an actuarial report detailing the financial obligations involved.
The pensioners accused the state government of failing to honour its commitment to retirees.
Michael Omisande, Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Contributory Pensioners, NUPCPS, Lagos State, said the retirees would sustain their agitation until their outstanding entitlements were paid.
PenCom begins talks with Lagos
The police action came as PenCom intervened in the dispute involving Lagos State CPS pensioners.
The commission acknowledged the pensioners’ grievances over the implementation of pension increases and wage awards. It said retirees should receive benefits legitimately due to them.
PenCom said it had engaged the Lagos State Government and the Lagos State Pension Commission, LASPEC, on pension administration issues, including the need to extend appropriate pension adjustments to eligible CPS retirees.
The commission also explained that implementing pension enhancements requires several stages. These include determining eligibility, establishing the applicable adjustments, calculating actuarial liability, providing funding, and supplying relevant data and instructions to Pension Fund Administrators, PFAs.
It said discussions with the relevant stakeholders were ongoing to ensure the required processes were properly addressed.
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