A coalition of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in Lagos has accused the Lagos State Police Command of attempting to cover up the alleged tear-gassing of protesting pensioners, demanding an independent investigation into the incident.
The groups, in a statement issued on Wednesday, September 2, 2026, condemned the reported use of force against elderly retirees who gathered at the Lagos State House of Assembly on August 31 to demand payment of outstanding pension increases, wage awards and arrears.
The pensioners, who include members of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners and retirees under the Contributory Pension Scheme, reportedly embarked on the protest following the expiration of a 19-day ultimatum issued to the Lagos State Government.
According to the CSOs, police officers disrupted the peaceful demonstration by firing tear gas at the protesters, forcing the elderly citizens to flee.
The coalition criticised the Lagos Police Command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Abimbola Adebisi, for denying that tear gas was used, despite eyewitness accounts alleging otherwise.
The organisations argued that the appropriate response should have been an impartial investigation into the incident rather than a denial, insisting that any attempt to conceal police misconduct could undermine public confidence in the force.
They also called on the Police Service Commission to investigate the conduct of the police spokesperson and take appropriate action if she is found to have deliberately misrepresented facts surrounding the incident.
The groups cited the account of Mr. Latif Salau, Deputy Chairman of the Nigerian Pensioners Practitioners of Lagos State, who reportedly said that a senior police officer apologised to the pensioners after the incident and provided them with sachet water and biscuits.
The CSOs questioned why an apology would have been offered if, as the police claimed, no tear-gassing occurred.
They further alleged that Tayo Ayinde, Chief of Staff to the Lagos State Governor, had also apologised to the retirees and absolved the state government of responsibility for the alleged tear-gassing.
The coalition expressed concern over what it described as a recurring pattern of police repression of peaceful demonstrations in Lagos, recalling an alleged crackdown on residents protesting demolitions and forced evictions at the Lagos State House of Assembly on January 28, 2026.
It linked the latest incident to previous episodes of protest suppression, including the 2020 #EndSARS demonstrations and the 2024 #EndBadGovernance protests.
The groups urged the Inspector-General of Police to initiate a review of the operations and leadership of the Lagos State Police Command and retrain officers on the rights of peaceful protesters, de-escalation, proportionality and the lawful use of force.
They also called for disciplinary action against officers found to have authorised or used unlawful force against vulnerable protesters.
Beyond the police issue, the coalition urged Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to directly engage the pensioners and immediately settle undisputed pension arrears.
The groups said pensioners under the Defined Benefit Scheme were demanding 57 months of arrears arising from the 2019 consequential adjustment, 12 months of arrears from the 20 and 28 per cent pension increases approved in 2024, as well as the N32,000 wage award effective from January 2024.
Those under the Contributory Pension Scheme, they said, were seeking unpaid increases dating back to 2010, subsequent adjustments and the N32,000 wage award.
The CSOs also questioned why pension obligations remained outstanding despite increased federal allocations to Lagos State.
They cited published figures showing that Lagos received N365.78 billion in Federal Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) disbursements in the first half of 2026, representing a 54.39 per cent increase from the N236.92 billion received during the corresponding period in 2025.
The organisations urged the Sanwo-Olu administration to explain how the additional funds were being utilised and why outstanding pension obligations had not been fully addressed.
They said pensioners’ representatives had reported that some retirees had died while waiting for their entitlements, warning that further delays could worsen the hardship faced by elderly citizens struggling with food, housing and medical expenses.
The coalition called on the governor to condemn the alleged police assault, pay undisputed arrears without further delay and publish a clear, time-bound plan for settling all outstanding pension claims.
It also urged the National Pension Commission and other relevant authorities to intervene and facilitate a resolution between the Lagos State Government and pensioners.
The CSOs maintained that the rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly are constitutionally protected, while pension rights are also guaranteed under the Constitution.
They urged the government and police to respect the rights and dignity of elderly citizens, stressing that pensioners should not face intimidation or violence for peacefully demanding their legally earned entitlements.