Lagos State pensioners have given Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s administration until August 31 to implement a proposed pension increase or face a mega protest at Alausa.
The pensioners issued the ultimatum during a warning protest in Lagos on Monday, accusing the state government and the Lagos State Pension Commission (LASPEC) of delaying the adjustment despite earlier assurances that Lagos would follow the Federal Government’s review of pension benefits.
Olagbaye Johnson, secretary of the pensioners’ union, said the warning protest was intended as a final opportunity for the government to resolve the issue before the retirees escalate their action. “If we do not get a response by August 31, there will be a mega protest,” Mr Johnson said.
The pensioners said they expect Lagos to implement the adjustment following the Federal Government’s review of benefits for contributory pensioners. Mr Johnson said the union had previously engaged the state government and was told that Lagos would implement the adjustment once the Federal Government did so.
He said the pensioners obtained the template used by the Federal Government and submitted it to the state Head of Service and LASPEC leadership after consultations with government officials. According to him, an actuarial valuation for the proposed adjustment was completed in May, but implementation has yet to follow.
Lagos Government Defends Pension Record
The Lagos State Government, however, pointed to its record of pension payments and reforms while responding to the retirees’ concerns. The government said LASPEC had paid N168.2 billion to more than 48,000 retirees under the state’s pension scheme from 2007 to date.
It said N92 billion of the amount was paid as accrued rights to more than 25,000 retirees between May 2019 and August 2026 comprising the gratuity and pension components owed to retiring public officers.
The government also said Lagos increased pension contributions in 2020 to 10% for employers and 8% for employees, a measure it said was designed to strengthen the contributory pension scheme.
In July 2024, the state said it paid N5 billion to 1,963 retirees, which it described as a landmark intervention that cleared outstanding pension obligations under the Contributory Pension Scheme.
The government also highlighted several measures taken to cushion pensioners against rising living costs. It said the N25,000 wage award granted to serving state employees was extended to more than 10,000 retirees under the Defined Benefits Scheme between December 2023 and February 2024.
This was followed by pension increases of 20% and 28% in March 2025 while in May 2026, Lagos also matched the Federal Government’s N32,000 pension wage award for its Defined Benefits Scheme retirees.
LASPEC said it had paid more than N4 billion to 1,862 retirees in 2026 and was preparing to disburse another N1 billion to 700 retirees within one week demonstrating the Sanwo-Olu administration’s commitment to the welfare of retired public servants.
