Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN), has called for the arrest and prosecution of police officers who allegedly used tear gas to disperse protesting pensioners in Alausa, Lagos, on Monday.
The pensioners had gathered at the Lagos State Government Secretariat and House of Assembly complex to demand outstanding pension adjustments, consequential increases and wage awards.
Falana condemned the police action, arguing that the retirees were exercising their constitutional right to peaceful assembly and protest.
He cited a 2008 Court of Appeal judgment, which affirmed Nigerians’ right to organise rallies and demonstrations without obtaining a police permit, and Section 4 of the Nigeria Police Force Establishment Act 2020, which he said requires police to provide security for peaceful gatherings.
“The violent disruption of the peaceful rally of pensioners at Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos State is a complete violation of the rights of the protesters,” Falana said.
He urged the Inspector-General of Police to identify, arrest and prosecute the officers responsible, alleging that the intervention caused physical injuries to some protesters.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Lagos State chapter of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners Contributory Pension Scheme, Michael Omisande, said several hundred retirees participated in the protest.
Omisande said police representatives later apologised to the pensioners, while the governor’s Chief of Staff met with the protesters and asked them to return to Alausa on Thursday for a meeting with Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
The protest comes amid an ongoing dispute over unpaid pension adjustments and wage awards for Lagos retirees under the Contributory Pension Scheme.
The National Pension Commission also said it had opened discussions with the Lagos State Government and Lagos State Pension Commission to resolve the issues.
PenCom said implementing pension adjustments involves determining eligible retirees, calculating applicable increases and actuarial liabilities, securing funding, and providing necessary instructions to Pension Fund Administrators.
The commission did not give a timeline for resolving the matter but said it would continue working with the state government, LASPEC, PFAs and pensioners’ representatives toward a sustainable resolution.
An eye witness on Social media platform X user @digitalbimpe posted a video of the aftermath of the attack.
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