Nigeria’s growing economic hardship may trigger fresh protests across the country as a federal workers’ group has demanded a massive increase in the national minimum wage, raising it from ₦70,000 to ₦300,000.
The Federal Workers Forum (FWF) also declared that its planned nationwide protest against hardship and insecurity would go ahead on Monday, June 29, despite recent comments by the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, acknowledging the poor state of workers’ welfare.
The group said Gbajabiamila’s remarks had validated its long-standing position that federal workers in Nigeria are grossly underpaid and struggling under worsening economic conditions.
In a statement jointly signed by the National Coordinator of the Forum, Andrew Emelieze, and the General Secretary, Ayo Ogundele, and made available to The Guardian on Sunday, the workers’ body urged the Federal Government to move beyond mere acknowledgement and take urgent steps to improve workers’ living conditions.
According to the Forum, admitting that workers are suffering without taking immediate action to address their welfare amounts to political rhetoric and insensitivity.
“Our outcry has been justified. The Federal Government has openly agreed with our position that federal workers are poorly paid, exploited and dehumanised. The recent statement by the Chief of Staff says it all.
“However, what is surprising is the government’s continued insensitivity to the suffering of federal workers despite repeated calls by the Federal Workers Forum,” the statement read.
The group also took a swipe at the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC), accusing both labour centres of failing to put enough pressure on the government to secure a realistic and sustainable wage for workers.
“It is not enough to admit guilt and go to sleep. The question is: what exactly is the government doing immediately to ensure justice for federal workers and pensioners?” the Forum queried.
The workers’ body further alleged that the Federal Government had yet to fully implement the ₦70,000 minimum wage and was still owing workers several entitlements, including outstanding wage award balances dating back to June 2024, promotion arrears, the 40 per cent peculiar allowance and other outstanding benefits.
According to the Forum, the new wage structure only translated to an additional ₦40,000 in workers’ salaries, a figure it described as grossly inadequate considering current economic realities.
The group consequently demanded an immediate salary review, proposing a new minimum wage of ₦300,000 and a maximum salary of ₦1.5 million for directors on Grade Level 17.
It also urged the Federal Government to backdate the proposed wage increase by at least one year as compensation for what it described as years of injustice against workers.
The Forum insisted that the planned nationwide protest would proceed as scheduled, calling on federal workers across the country to wear black outfits and gather peacefully at federal secretariats to protest rising insecurity and economic hardship.
“We are going ahead with our planned national protest against insecurity and hardship. Federal workers are tired of false hope. We are not slaves; we are citizens, and we demand justice. Federal workers will definitely protest. There is no going back,” the statement added.
