By Olasunkanmi Akoni
LAGOS — Tension rose in Lagos on Monday as policemen attached to the Lagos State Command reportedly fired tear gas to disperse pensioners protesting at the Lagos House and Lagos State House of Assembly, Ikeja, over outstanding pension adjustments and wage awards.
The pensioners, under the Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP), had gathered at the government premises to demand the implementation of approved pension increases, payment of arrears and other benefits due to them.
The protesters said their demands centred on outstanding pension enhancements and wage awards, among other welfare issues.
The use of tear gas to disperse the protesters heightened tension at the scene, with the retirees expressing displeasure over what they described as the use of force against them while demanding their entitlements.
The pensioners had earlier issued August 31 as a deadline for the payment of their outstanding pension enhancements and wage awards.
Retirees reject LASPEC’s position
Meanwhile, the Lagos State Retirees Association has rejected the Lagos State Pension Commission’s (LASPEC) account of government support for pensioners, insisting that outstanding pension adjustments, wage awards and other arrears remain unresolved.
The association made its position known in a rejoinder signed by its Chairman, Comrade Olarewaju Caleb, in response to an earlier statement attributed to the Director-General of LASPEC, Mr Babalola Obilana.
Caleb described the LASPEC statement as misleading and out of context, saying it prompted pensioners to embark on protests across local government areas in the state.
“The demand for pension increase/wage award is the crux of our agitation, which the Constitution of Nigeria guarantees,” he said.
He noted that President Bola Tinubu had implemented similar measures for federal pensioners and recalled that Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu had, at various fora, promised to implement them for Lagos State pensioners.
The chairman also disputed the presentation of billions of naira reportedly spent on retirees’ benefits, arguing that the funds should not be presented as gifts from the state government.
“The billions of naira displayed in the write-up is a diversionary attempt to confuse the public. It is the established responsibility of LASPEC to perform its constitutional role in protecting and disbursing the retirees’ funds entrusted into its fold. The said billions of naira was not a gift from the Lagos State Government to retirees. Lagos State retirees contributed greatly to it,” he said.
Caleb explained that pensioners under the NUP comprised two categories — the Defined Benefit Scheme (DBS) and the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS).
Under the DBS, he said the association was demanding payment of 57 months’ arrears of the 2019 consequential adjustment, 12 months’ arrears of the 20 per cent and 28 per cent pension increases approved in 2024, as well as arrears of the N32,000 wage award for state pensioners effective from January 2024.
He also called for pensioners in parastatals to be moved to the state Oracle system, arguing that they should not depend on subventions.
For pensioners under the CPS, Caleb said the association was demanding outstanding pension increases dating back 16 years, including the 15 per cent increase of 2010, 33 per cent increase in the 2019 consequential adjustment, 20 per cent and 28 per cent increases in 2024, and the N32,000 wage award effective from January 2024.
He questioned the disparity between the amount reportedly spent on retirees and the pensions received by some former workers.
“If the billions of naira rolled out in the write-up were not misleading, how come officers who served for 35 years are receiving N10,000, N20,000, N40,000, with the maximum being N60,000 to N70,000, as monthly pension?” he asked.
Caleb further questioned why workers on Grade Levels 01 to 07 were allegedly not pensionable after 35 years of service.
He expressed concern that Governor Sanwo-Olu might not be receiving a complete picture of the situation from some government officials.
“These made us believe that Mr Governor is being misled by some mischievous government officials who are also using the same tactics to intentionally confuse the public with the said publication,” he said.
Caleb appealed to Sanwo-Olu to intervene by convening a meeting with pensioners to enable them to present their concerns directly.
“We implore Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to extend his kindness and enthusiasm, which he has established since he came to office as the Governor of Lagos State, to pensioners by convening a meeting with them to afford him a golden opportunity to know the true picture of the situation,” he said.
The association said it remained committed to engaging the state government towards resolving the outstanding issues affecting pensioners in Lagos.
As of press time, government officials had yet to respond to the pensioners’ latest claims.
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