Pensioners in Lagos State on Monday protested at the Lagos House in Ikeja over outstanding pension arrears, unpaid entitlements and the alleged failure of the state government to implement approved pension increases and wage awards.
The protesters, comprising members of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP) and retirees under the Contributory Pension Scheme, converged on the state government premises to demand immediate action on payments they said had remained outstanding.
The retirees called for the settlement of pension arrears and other benefits due to them, expressing concern over the financial hardship they had been subjected to as a result of the delays.
The demonstration, according to the pensioners, was also intended to draw the attention of the state government to their demands for pension adjustments, wage awards and other approved benefits.
However, the protest turned tense when police officers reportedly deployed tear gas to disperse the pensioners gathered at the Lagos House.
The action disrupted the demonstration, with some of the retirees forced to leave the premises.
The pensioners reportedly expressed anger over the treatment meted out to them, insisting that they had gathered peacefully to present their grievances to the state authorities.
Their protest came after the retirees had issued August 31 as a deadline for the government to address their demands, particularly the implementation of pension enhancements and payment of outstanding wage awards.
The pensioners maintained that the affected payments were critical to their welfare, given their dependence on pensions and other retirement benefits for their livelihood.