Take-It-Back Movement Demands Immediate Removal Of Lagos Police Commissioner Over Tear-gassing Of Pensioners | Sahara Reporters
Police reportedly fired tear gas to disperse the protesters, forcing some of them to leave the premises.
The Take-It-Back Movement has condemned the reported use of tear gas by policemen to disperse pensioners protesting over unpaid entitlements at the Lagos State Government premises, describing the action as “barbaric, cruel and disgraceful.”
The group, in a statement posted on its X handle, accused the Lagos State Police Command of perpetrating an act of brutality against elderly citizens who were demanding payment of pension increases, wage awards and other outstanding retirement benefits.
The development occurred on Monday when pensioners under the Nigeria Union of Pensioners and retirees under the Contributory Pension Scheme gathered at the Lagos House and the Lagos State House of Assembly in Ikeja to press their demands.
Police reportedly fired tear gas to disperse the protesters, forcing some of them to leave the premises.
Reacting to the incident, the Take It Back Movement said, “Barbaric, cruel and disgraceful!”
The group added, “The teargassing of pensioners demanding their legitimate entitlements at the Lagos State HOA is an outrageous act of police brutality.”
It further held the Lagos State Commissioner of Police responsible for what it described as an “egregious act” and called for his immediate removal.
The incident has drawn wider condemnation from human rights groups and activists, amid renewed concerns over the treatment of pensioners protesting against delayed retirement benefits.
The Committee for the Defence of Human Rights also condemned the reported use of tear gas and force against the retirees, describing the action as inhumane and an affront to human dignity.
The pensioners’ protest followed an ultimatum issued to the Lagos State Government over the delayed implementation of pension enhancements and wage awards.
The retirees had reportedly set August 31 as a deadline for the government to address their grievances, including the implementation of approved pension increases and payment of accumulated arrears and other benefits.
The National Pension Commission subsequently disclosed that it had opened discussions with the Lagos State Government and the Lagos State Pension Commission over the delayed pension increases and wage awards affecting retirees under the Contributory Pension Scheme.
According to reports, the pensioners had submitted proposals on the implementation of pension enhancement to the state government earlier in the year. The retirees subsequently complained that despite indications that the process would be facilitated, implementation had yet to commence.
The dispute comes amid broader concerns over the financial hardship faced by retirees as the cost of living continues to rise.
While the Lagos State Pension Commission has previously said the state had paid N168bn to about 48,000 pensioners, retirees have continued to raise concerns over unpaid increases and other benefits.
The reported deployment of tear gas has therefore shifted attention from the pension dispute itself to the conduct of security personnel and the right of the elderly protesters to peacefully assemble and demand their entitlements.
As of the latest reports, the Lagos State Government and the police had not publicly explained the circumstances surrounding the use of tear gas against the pensioners.