The Lagos State Government says it has disbursed N168.2bn to more than 48,000 retirees under the state’s Contributory Pension Scheme since its commencement in 2007.
The government disclosed this on Tuesday while responding to concerns raised by some retirees protesting over pension-related issues in the state.
According to the state, the payments were made through the Lagos State Pension Commission and covered retirees under the Contributory Pension Scheme.
The government said, “The Lagos State Pension Commission has paid N168.2 billion to over 48,000 retirees from 2007 to date.”
It further disclosed that more than N92bn had been paid as accrued rights to over 25,000 retirees between May 2019 and Tuesday.
The state explained that accrued rights covered both gratuity and pension benefits due to retiring public servants.
“Accrued rights, it should be noted, comprise both the gratuity and pension elements owed to a retiring officer, and this administration has prioritised the prompt and full settlement of both components,” it said.
The government also said it increased pension contribution rates in 2020, with employers contributing 10 per cent and employees eight per cent.
It described the adjustment as part of measures to strengthen the pension scheme and improve benefits for retirees.
The state highlighted a N5bn payment made in July 2024 to 1,963 retirees, saying the intervention cleared outstanding liabilities under the Contributory Pension Scheme.
It said, “This administration has been particularly deliberate in expediting the payment of accrued rights, releasing additional funding specifically to clear outstanding backlogs.”
The government added that it had introduced expedited gratuity payments for sick pensioners, while their pension benefits continued to be paid into their Retirement Savings Accounts.
It also said welfare programmes were organised twice yearly to provide additional support to retirees amid rising living costs.
For pensioners under the Defined Benefits Scheme, the government said it extended the N25,000 wage award granted to serving state workers to more than 10,000 retirees between December 2023 and February 2024.
According to the state, this was followed by increases of 20 per cent and 28 per cent in March 2025.
It added that in May 2026, it adopted the Federal Government’s N32,000 pension wage award for its DBS retirees.
The government said the measures had more than doubled the pension wage bill.
It further disclosed that the Lagos State Pension Commission had paid N4bn to 1,862 retirees in 2026, with another N1bn scheduled for payment to 700 retirees within the following week.
“True to this tradition of prompt and consistent payment, LASPEC has, so far this year, paid 1,862 retirees a total of over N4 billion, and is poised to disburse a further N1 billion to another 700 retirees within the next one week,” the government said.
The state said the various interventions demonstrated the administration’s commitment to improving the welfare of retired public servants.
