Global Rights has condemned the use of tear gas by the Nigeria Police Force to disperse pensioners protesting unpaid pension arrears and other outstanding benefits in Lagos.
The rights organisation said the incident occurred on August 31, when members of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners and retirees under the Contributory Pension Scheme gathered at the Governor’s Office, Lagos House, Ikeja, to demand payment of their outstanding entitlements.
In a statement signed by its Executive Director, Abiodun Baiyewu, Global Rights described the police action as a violent disruption of a peaceful protest and expressed concern over the use of force against elderly citizens.
The organisation stressed that peaceful protest is a legitimate form of civic participation and an essential component of a democratic society, urging authorities to allow citizens to demand accountability without intimidation or unnecessary force.
Global Rights said the reported deployment of tear gas against pensioners exercising their constitutional rights raised serious human rights concerns and reflected what it described as a recurring pattern of excessive and disproportionate responses to protests in Nigeria.
It cited previous incidents, including the #EndBadGovernance protests in August 2024 and the #EndSARS demonstrations in October 2020, during which security personnel were accused of using excessive force against protesters.
The group also referenced the reported use of tear gas and other measures by the police to disperse protesters in Abuja in October 2025.
According to Global Rights, the repeated use of force against peaceful protesters could undermine public confidence in government and law enforcement while leaving the underlying grievances unresolved.
The organisation urged the Nigeria Police Force to investigate the circumstances surrounding the use of tear gas against the pensioners and determine whether the force deployed was necessary and proportionate.
It also called for sanctions against officers found to have acted unlawfully or excessively, as well as improved police training in crowd management, human rights and the policing of peaceful assemblies.
Global Rights further urged the police to prioritise de-escalation, dialogue and negotiation when managing protests and to protect citizens’ rights to peaceful assembly, expression and petition.
The organisation called on the Lagos State Government to urgently engage the affected pensioners, address their grievances and provide a clear and transparent timeline for the payment of their outstanding entitlements.
It maintained that pension disputes should be resolved through responsible governance and dialogue rather than police intervention.
Global Rights warned that normalising the use of force against peaceful protesters could deepen public grievances, weaken democratic institutions and further erode trust between citizens and government.
The organisation reaffirmed its commitment to protecting civic space, freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and human rights in Nigeria.