The Committee for the Defence of Human Rights on Tuesday condemned the reported use of tear gas and force against pensioners protesting on Monday over unpaid pensions, gratuities and other entitlements at the Lagos State House of Assembly.
The rights group, in a statement signed by its National President, Yinka Folarin, and General Secretary, Idris Afees, described the alleged action against the elderly protesters as “inhumane, unacceptable and a serious affront to human dignity.”
The pensioners were reportedly at the Assembly complex on Monday to demand the payment of their outstanding entitlements after years of service to the Lagos State Government.
Reacting to reports of the protest, the CDHR said, “Elderly men and women, who dedicated several years of their productive lives to the service of Lagos State, were reportedly dispersed with tear gas while exercising their fundamental right to peaceful assembly and protest.”
The organisation said the reports and images from the protest were disturbing, particularly because the demonstrators were senior citizens demanding what they were entitled to after retirement.
