The Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR) has condemned the reported use of tear gas to disperse pensioners protesting over unpaid entitlements in Lagos, describing the incident as unacceptable and calling for an investigation.
The pensioners reportedly gathered at the Lagos House and Lagos State House of Assembly in Ikeja on Monday to demand the payment of outstanding pension arrears, pension adjustments, wage awards and other benefits owed to them.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, CDHR National President Yinka Folarin and General Secretary Idris Afees said the alleged use of force against elderly former public servants raised serious concerns about human dignity and the right to peaceful assembly.
The organisation said the protesters were retirees who had spent years serving the Lagos State Government and were seeking benefits they believed were due to them.
“Retired public servants are not criminals. Pension is not a favour, charity or privilege; it is a right and an entitlement earned through years of dedicated service,” the group said.
CDHR urged the Lagos State Government to engage directly with representatives of the pensioners and take immediate steps to settle all verified outstanding pensions, gratuities and allowances.
It also called for the government to publish a clear, transparent and time-bound schedule for the payment of the outstanding entitlements, arguing that the issue should be addressed through dialogue rather than confrontation.
The human rights group further demanded an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the reported use of tear gas against the protesters.
It called for the findings of any investigation to be made public and urged the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies to exercise restraint and professionalism when dealing with peaceful demonstrations.
CDHR said the treatment of elderly pensioners was particularly concerning because they were protesting over benefits arising from their years of public service.
The organisation warned that failure to address the pensioners’ grievances, coupled with the alleged use of force against them, could undermine public confidence in government institutions and raise broader concerns about social justice.
The pensioners’ protest has also drawn attention to the continuing dispute over outstanding retirement benefits in Lagos, with the retirees insisting that their demands be addressed by the state government.
CDHR called on human rights organisations, labour unions, professional bodies and members of the public to support the pensioners in seeking a resolution to the dispute.
The group maintained that the immediate priority should be the peaceful resolution of the pensioners’ grievances and the payment of all verified entitlements owed to them.