The Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP), Lagos State Council, has rejected a recent statement by the Lagos State Pension Commission (LASPEC) on the welfare of retirees in the state, describing the publication as misleading, outrageous and taken out of context.
The union, in a rejoinder signed by its Chairman, Comrade Olarewaju Oluwafemi Caleb, said the statement credited to the Director-General of LASPEC, Mr. Babalola Obilana, prompted its warning protest held on Monday, August 24, 2026, across local government areas in Lagos State.
According to the NUP, the central issue behind its agitation is the demand for pension increases and wage awards for Lagos State pensioners.
The union argued that the demand was supported by the Constitution and pointed to the implementation of similar measures for federal pensioners by the Federal Government under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
It also recalled that Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, had, on various occasions, promised to implement the measures for pensioners in the state.
The NUP further dismissed LASPEC’s reference to billions of naira spent on retirees, arguing that the funds were not gifts from the Lagos State Government but represented pension contributions made by workers during their years of service.
The union also clarified that its members fall into two major categories: the Defined Benefit Scheme (DBS) and the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS).
For pensioners under the Defined Benefit Scheme, the union is demanding: Payment of 57 months’ arrears of the 2019 consequential adjustment, payment of 12 months’ arrears arising from the 20 per cent and 28 per cent pension increases approved in 2024, payment of arrears of the ₦32,000 wage award for state pensioners, effective from January 2024, transfer of pensioners in state parastatals to the state’s oracle payroll system, arguing that retirees should not have to depend on subventions for the payment of their pensions.
For pensioners under the Contributory Pension Scheme, the union is demanding payment of what it described as 16 years of outstanding pension increases, including: The 15 per cent pension increase of 2010, the 33 per cent consequential adjustment of 2019, the 20 per cent and 28 per cent pension increases of 2024, the ₦32,000 wage award introduced in 2024, with effect from January 2024.
Meanwhile, the union also questioned the disparity between the billions of naira reportedly spent on pension matters and the monthly pensions received by some retirees.
It asked how retirees who served for as long as 35 years could be receiving monthly pensions of between ₦10,000 and ₦70,000.
The NUP further demanded an explanation as to why workers on Grade Levels 01 to 07 were allegedly not being adequately covered under pension arrangements after decades of service.
The union said the issues had raised concerns among pensioners that the governor might not be receiving a complete picture of their situation from some government officials.
However, the NUP appealed to Governor Sanwo-Olu to intervene by convening a meeting with representatives of pensioners.
The union said such a meeting would provide the governor with an opportunity to hear directly from retirees and understand what it described as the true state of pensioners’ welfare in Lagos.
The NUP maintained that it remained committed to constructive engagement with the Lagos State Government in finding lasting solutions to the challenges confronting pensioners in the state.