Sep 6, 2026

Chief of Staff Apologises, Signs MoU… Then Ghosts Lagos Pensioners Completely

By Afolabi Olaiya Idowu in news

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Lagos, September 6, 2026—Lagos State pensioners under the Contributory Pension Scheme say they feel abandoned after a high-level meeting with the Governor’s Chief of Staff failed to produce the promised engagement with Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu or any concrete progress on their demands.

Michael Omisande, Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners, Contributory Pension Scheme (NUPCPS), Lagos State chapter, made the revelation on ARISE News’ Morning Show. He clarified that the only official interaction after their August 31 protest was with the Chief of Staff.

“We only met with the Governor’s Chief-of-Staff on 31st August,” Omisande stated. “The chief of staff apologized on behalf of the government and the police and took us into his office and we came with a memorandum of understanding.

We were assured the government was going to do something about the situation. We were promised another meeting with stakeholders and the governor, but that meeting never held, and I’m yet to hear a progress report on the matter.”

The Road to August 31

The pensioners had issued a 19-day ultimatum demanding implementation of approved pension enhancements and wage awards aligned with the Federal Government template.

When the deadline passed without results, hundreds of elderly retirees gathered at the Lagos State Government Secretariat and House of Assembly complex in Alausa.

Police intervention, including reported use of tear gas, disrupted the peaceful demonstration.

The action drew sharp condemnation from human rights lawyer Femi Falana (SAN), activist Omoyele Sowore, and several civil society groups, who described it as an assault on senior citizens exercising their right to protest.

Governor Sanwo-Olu was reportedly out of town. His Chief of Staff, Tayo Ayinde, met the protesters, apologized for the incident (while distancing the government from the tear-gassing order), and facilitated an MoU.

A follow-up meeting with the governor was scheduled for later that week. According to Omisande, it never took place.

What the Pensioners Are Demanding

Retirees under the Contributory Pension Scheme say they are still waiting for pension increases and wage awards that federal counterparts have already received.

Some claims stretch back years, with references to arrears spanning up to 16 years in certain contexts. Union leaders have repeatedly highlighted the hardship faced by members, including reports of deaths among unpaid retirees.

The Lagos State Government and the Lagos State Pension Commission (LASPEC) have countered that the administration has prioritized retiree welfare, citing cumulative payments of ₦168.2 billion to over 48,000 retirees since 2007, including significant disbursements in recent years.

Officials maintain that processes for further adjustments involve actuarial assessments and careful fiscal planning.

The National Pension Commission (PenCom) has also stepped in, opening discussions with the state government and LASPEC to address the delays.

A Waiting Game Continues

For Omisande and the pensioners he represents, the lack of follow-through after the Chief of Staff’s assurances has deepened frustration.

What began as a protest for economic justice has now become a test of trust between Lagos retirees and the state government.

As the weeks stretch on without the promised meeting or a clear progress report, the elderly citizens who spent decades in public service continue to wait—still hoping that their years of labour will finally be fully recognized through the benefits they say are rightfully theirs.