Hundred of pensioners took to the streets of Lagos on M to protest the non-payment of their pension entitlements, some of which have been outstanding for 35 months.
The retirees, it was gathered, are primarily from various state government sectors, gathered at the Lagos State Secretariat in Alausa, the state seat of power chanting anti-government slogans and displaying placards demanding immediate action from the state government.
The protesters, under the aegis of the Lagos State Retirees Association, expressed frustration over the prolonged delay in receiving their pensions and gratuities, which they claim has plunged many into financial hardship.
The Association’s Chairman, Chief Adebayo Ogunleye, who led the demonstration, said “We served this state diligently for decades, yet we are left to beg for our rightful entitlements”
Ogunleye, who claimed that the unpaid pensions have left many retirees unable to afford basic necessities, including healthcare and food, accused the Lagos State government of neglecting their plight despite repeated promises to clear the backlog.
The pensioners appealed to the state government to give a specific time for the payment of their entitlements, even as they decried the untold hardship they suffer daily.
According to a statement from the association, over 5,000 retirees are affected, with some having waited since 2022 for their entitlements.
