By Palang Paul
Global Rights has called for an investigation into the alleged use of tear gas by police to disperse protesting pensioners in Lagos, describing the response as excessive and disproportionate.
The rights organisation made the demand in a statement signed by its Executive Director, Abiodun Baiyewu, following the August 31 protest by members of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners and retirees under the Contributory Pension Scheme at the Governor’s Office, Lagos House, Ikeja.
The pensioners were protesting over outstanding pension arrears and the alleged failure of the government to implement approved pension increases, wage awards and other benefits, Global Rights said.
The organisation said it was particularly concerned by reports that police officers deployed tear gas to disperse the elderly protesters who had gathered to press their demands.
Global Rights said peaceful assembly and protest were legitimate forms of civic participation and should not be treated as threats to public order.
“Citizens must be able to demand accountability from the government without fear of intimidation, harassment, or unnecessary use of force,” the organisation said.
It said the reported use of tear gas against the pensioners raised concerns about the protection of the rights to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression.
The organisation also placed the incident within what it described as a wider pattern of heavy-handed responses to protests by Nigerian security agencies.
Global Rights cited the August 2024 #EndBadGovernance protests, saying Nigeria Mourns documented at least 24 deaths and more than 1,200 arrests during the demonstrations.
It also referred to the October 2020 #EndSARS protests, during which security forces were accused of using tear gas, water cannons and live ammunition against protesters, as well as more recent protests in Abuja in October 2025.
Global Rights said recurring confrontations between security agencies and protesters risk undermining public confidence in government institutions and law enforcement.
The organisation called on the Nigeria Police Force to investigate the circumstances surrounding the use of tear gas and determine whether the force deployed was necessary and proportionate.
It further urged authorities to hold accountable any officers found to have acted unlawfully or used excessive force.
Global Rights also called for improved police training in crowd management, human rights and the policing of peaceful assemblies, urging officers to prioritise de-escalation, dialogue and negotiation.
The group said police protection of public order should be carried out in a manner that respects citizens’ rights to peaceful assembly, expression and petition, including when they criticise government policies or demand accountability.
On the pension dispute itself, Global Rights urged the Lagos State Government to engage directly with the affected pensioners and provide a clear and transparent timeline for resolving their outstanding claims.
“The solution to a pension dispute is not a police operation. It is responsible governance,” the organisation said.
Global Rights warned that using force against peaceful protesters would not resolve the grievances that prompted their demonstrations but could instead deepen public distrust and resentment.
The organisation reaffirmed its commitment to defending civic space, freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and other human rights in Nigeria.
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