Lagos pensioners give Sanwo-Olu August 31 ultimatum over pension increase

‎A fresh confrontation is brewing between the Lagos State Government and retirees under the Contributory Pension Scheme, CPS, as pensioners have issued an August 31 deadline for the payment of their outstanding pension enhancement and wage award.

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‎The retirees, under the Nigeria Union of Pensioners Contributory Pension Scheme, NUPCPS, said failure by the state government to meet their demand could trigger what they described as the “mother of all protests.”

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‎The chairman of the NUPCPS, Lagos State Council, Michael Omisande, disclosed the position of the pensioners after a meeting with the Permanent Secretary, Public Service Office, Sunkanmi Oyegbola.

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‎Omisande said the union had submitted a template to the state government in January 2026 outlining its proposal for implementing the pension enhancement.

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‎According to him, the Lagos State Pension Commission, LASPEC, subsequently informed the union that approval had been given for an actuary to be engaged to facilitate the process, but the expected implementation had yet to take place.

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‎“We have communicated a 19-day ultimatum to Mr Governor to credit the accounts of pensioners on the pension increases/wage award, or face protest action tentatively fixed for August 31, 2026,” Omisande said.

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‎He added that the union had notified the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, and the state Commissioner of Police about the planned demonstration to ensure adequate security for the pensioners.

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‎The meeting was attended by the Director-General of LASPEC, Babalola Obilana, and the commission’s Executive Director of Finance, Muyiwa Oshin.

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‎During the meeting, Obilana reportedly told the pensioners that Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu had summoned him and issued a directive concerning the matter. However, he did not provide a specific date for the commencement of payment.

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‎Also present were leaders of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners Defined Benefit Scheme (NUPDBS), Olufemi Olarewaju and Olukayode Bada.

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‎The Lagos State chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Funmi Sessi, also called on LASPEC to accelerate the process and prevent the dispute from escalating into a wider confrontation.

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‎Omisande said the national leadership of the NUPCPS had endorsed the position of the Lagos council. He added that the union intended to use both traditional and social media platforms to mobilise retirees ahead of the proposed protest.

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‎“It is a sacrifice we must render for our financial emancipation. I strongly believe that the money can be paid if the government really wants to pay within the time frame,” he said.

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‎Sessi similarly appealed to the state government to resolve the matter promptly, urging the relevant authorities to expedite the payment process and avert a confrontation with the retirees.

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