Lagos Pension Crisis: APM Gives Sanwo-Olu Fresh Demand to Pay Retirees

…As party says pensioners who served the state for decades should not be subjected to hardship while waiting for benefits they have already earned

The Allied Peoples Movement (APM), Lagos State Chapter, has condemned the continued delay by the Lagos State Government in implementing pension enhancement and paying outstanding entitlements owed to state pensioners.

The party’s reaction follows a fresh seven-day ultimatum issued by pensioners under the Nigeria Union of Pensioners Contributory Pension Scheme (NUPCPS), Lagos State Council, to the state government, with August 31, 2026, set as the deadline for action.

The pensioners had reportedly staged a warning protest at Iyana Ipaja on Monday, accusing the government of failing to implement their pension enhancement despite several engagements.

According to the pensioners, their proposal for the enhancement was submitted in January 2026, while the Lagos State Pension Commission, LASPEC, reportedly indicated that approval had been given for an actuarial process to facilitate its implementation.

According to the development, the APM, in a statement signed by its Lagos State Publicity Secretary, Ayodele Kazeem, described the situation as unacceptable and a reflection of the hardship faced by elderly citizens who spent decades serving the state.

The party said some of the affected pensioners reportedly served the state for as long as 35 years, insisting that they should not be subjected to humiliation before receiving benefits they had legitimately earned.

The APM questioned why pensioners had to embark on protests and issue ultimatums before government would fulfil its obligations to them.

It also expressed concern over reports that some pensioners were struggling to afford basic necessities, including food and medication, while others had reportedly died while waiting for their entitlements.

The party therefore called on Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to immediately direct the implementation and payment of all verified outstanding pension enhancements, wage awards and other legitimate entitlements owed to Lagos pensioners.

The APM also urged the Lagos State House of Assembly to intervene by scrutinising the matter and ensuring that the interests of pensioners are protected.

The party commended the Nigeria Union of Pensioners for peacefully advocating for its members and appealed to the state government to engage the pensioners in good faith and resolve the matter before the August 31 deadline.

The APM maintained that pensioners were not asking for charity but demanding what they had earned through years of service to Lagos State.

It urged the government to demonstrate commitment to the welfare of elderly citizens and resolve the issue without waiting for another mass protest.

The party further stressed that the performance of any government should not only be measured by the number of projects it executes, but also by how it treats vulnerable citizens and those who have dedicated their working lives to public service.