Kunle Adelabu & Mariam Akinloye
Lagos pensioners under the Nigeria Union of Pensioners, Contributory Pension Scheme (NUP- CPS), on Monday took to the streets across the state to stage a warning protest over denial of entitlements by the Lagos State Government.
The protest was organised simultaneously across the 57 LG/LCDAs in the state.
Members of the NUP-CPS in Igbogbo/Baiyeku LCDA (IBLCDA) zone staged their protest at the Agarawu Junction close to the Adeboruwa Palace, where they sang protest songs and appeal to the Lagos State Government to implement the increased pension arrears and wages.
They later moved peacefully along Obafemi Awolowo Road to the IBLCDA Secretariat, where the Chairman, NUP, Lagos State Council, Comrade Olufemi Olanrewaju, represented by Comrade Adewale Stephen Olusegun, State Data & Correspondence Officer, supported by Comrade Abimbola Olatunde and Comrade Bisi Mustapha Bello, Chairman and Vice Chairman, IBLCDA NUP- CPS zone, respectively, to submit their protest letter to the Governor through the Council Chairman, Omo’ba Hammed Aroyewun, who was represented by the senior management staff and political appointees led by Mr Babatunde Afolabi, the Council Manager.
The senior citizens who lamented the harsh effects of the economy accused the government of delaying the implementation of a pension increase which they were promised by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, after the same approved increase was implemented for the federal pensioners.
The pensioners accused the government and the Lagos State Pension Commission under the leadership of Mr Babalola Obilana, of dragging their feet on the payment of the increase.
They warned that failure by the government to respond positively by August 31st would bring them back on the streets of the state to stage “Mother of All Protests” at the Lagos State House and the Lagos State House of Assembly, Alausa, Ikeja.
They carried placards with inscriptions: “Pensioners in Parastatals Demand Movement To Mainstream”, “Mr. Governor, Pensioners are pauperised. Pay Us Now”, “Lagos State Pensioners’ Demand 16years, of Pension Increases and Wages Awards 57 months, Pension Arrears for DBS Pensioners, Mr. Governor, Pay Us Now”, “We Are Tired Of LASG Foot Dragging On Pensioners Welfare”, “President Tinubu Don’t Let Lagos Pensioners Suffer”, “A level 17 Pensioners Earns #60, 000 Monthly”, “Lagos state Pensioners Turn To Beggars”, “Pensioners Die Weekly Over Inadequate Healthcare”, and “Lagos is Insensitive To Pensioners Plight”.
The NUP state chairman lamented the treatment of pensioners by the government:
“After serving our fatherland for thirty -five years and when it is time to rest, the Authorities in Lagos State have continued to deny us our defined Entitlements.”
”Unlike other Pensioners across the Globe who are enjoying the fruits of their Labour, Lagos State Pensioners have been pauperised. In the last decade, no fewer than 2000 Pensioners have passed on, waiting endlessly to get their entitlements from the State Government.
”Many are now homeless while hundreds are gravely sick due to paucity of funds to take care of themselves. We do not want all of us to be wiped out of the surface of the Earth, hence, the agitations to make the Government accede to our demands.”
The protesters demanded for ease of payment for pensioners in various parastatals and payment of wage increment.
”We are also clamouring for the movement of Pensioners in Parastatals to the mainstream of the Public Service for ease of payment.”
”On the part of Pensioners under the contributory Pension Scheme, CPS, the Scheme was introduced in Lagos State in 2007.
”We are agitating for the payment of 15 percent minimum wage of 2010, 33 percent increment of 2019 consequential adjustment, 20% and 28% increase of 2024, and #32,000 Wage Award from January, 2024 till date,” he said.
Lagos pensioners also urge the Governor to pay all outstanding pensions.
”We are therefore imploring Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to pay all the outstanding pension liabilities. Mr Governor also is urged to release funds to Retirees who exited the service from 2024 till date whose files have been cleared by LASPEC.
”Pensioners in Lagos State deserve better treatment than what we are going through. A level 17 Pensioner earns less than sixty thousand naira monthly (#60,000).
“What we are getting from the State Government is suicidal. We die weekly due to malnutrition and we have been turned to Beggars after a glorious service to the State. The Senior Citizens should be treated with dignity, honour and not neglect as we are the ones that laid the Golden Eggs.”
Receiving the protest letter on behalf of the Council Chairman, Mr Afolabi Babatunde, assured the senior citizens of the delivery of the letter to the governor of the state, while also stressing that he the governor has the interest of the pensioners at heart.
