By Fatima Saka
The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has condemned the use of teargas against retired workers of the Lagos State Government who protested over delays in the payment of their pensions and other outstanding entitlements.
The Islamic human rights organisation demanded an unreserved apology from the Lagos State Police Command, describing the action as reckless, unprofessional and lacking civility.
The call was contained in a statement issued on Tuesday, September 1, 2026, by MURIC’s Founder and Executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola.
According to Akintola, angry pensioners staged a protest at Alausa, Ikeja, on Monday, August 31, to express their grievances over the prolonged delay in the payment of their entitlements, including unpaid pension increases, wage awards and other outstanding benefits.
He said the protest was organised by the Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP) and retirees under the Contributory Pension Scheme.
MURIC said the protest, however, took an unexpected turn when teargas was fired at the protesters, forcing the senior citizens to flee the premises.
“We strongly condemn the use of teargas on non-violent protesters, least of all senior citizens, many of whom are frail and vulnerable. It was most reckless, unprofessional and lacking in all forms of civility,” Akintola said.
The group argued that the pensioners deserved respect and dignity, having served the Lagos State Government during their active years.
“We therefore demand an unreserved apology from the state police command. People who have served the state government in their prime with all their strength and intellect deserve to be treated with respect and dignity at retirement,” he said.
MURIC also urged the Lagos State Government to urgently settle all outstanding obligations owed the pensioners, warning that continued delays in paying their entitlements amounted to insensitivity.
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“In the same vein, we charge the state government to expedite action on the settlement of all their entitlements. It is the height of wickedness and insensitivity to procrastinate in the matter of giving pensioners their due,” Akintola added.
The organisation called for a humane and respectful approach to addressing the grievances of retired workers, while urging the authorities to prevent a recurrence of the incident.
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