The Federal Workers Forum has rejected the proposed N100,000 national minimum wage, describing it as inadequate and incapable of addressing the prevailing economic realities facing Nigerian workers. This position was contained in a communiqué issued on Sunday at the conclusion of a meeting and opinion poll held on Saturday to deliberate on the mounting hardship and insecurity across the country. The official statement was jointly signed by the National Coordinator of the forum, Mr Andrew Emelieze, the National Secretary, Mr Ayo Ogundele, and the National Mobilisation Officer, Mr Aminu Yerima.
The workers' forum stated that federal employees are currently grappling with worsening living conditions, low wages, unpaid financial arrears, and rising insecurity despite repeated government assurances regarding their overall welfare. According to the communiqué, the implementation of the existing N70,000 national minimum wage has fallen short of the expectations of workers and has failed to improve their purchasing power. The group alleged that only a flat sum of N40,000 was added uniformly to salaries across various grade levels and noted that subsequent deductions further reduced the actual benefits received by the workforce.
Furthermore, the forum expressed deep concern over the non-implementation of the 40 per cent peculiar allowance alongside outstanding wage award arrears promised by government officials. Expressing the shared plight of public servants, the group stated, “Federal workers nationwide are living daily in fear and uncertainty. We are constantly confronted with the challenges of survival and safety,” They added, “Workers have continued to face severe economic hardship arising from inflation, high living costs, fuel subsidy removal and declining value of the naira.” The body also highlighted the backlog of unpaid benefits, noting, “Many federal workers are still being owed promotion arrears, wage awards, duty tour allowances and other entitlements accumulated over several years,”
Reacting to the proposed N100,000 minimum wage reportedly canvassed by state governors, the forum argued that the offer falls far below what could be reasonably regarded as a living wage. Criticizing the shift in the stance of the governors, the communiqué noted, “To us, this is the height of hypocrisy. These same governors, most of whom said they could not afford the N70,000 minimum wage, are now proposing N100,000,” The forum described the proposal as a Greek gift and urged authorities to follow due process in negotiating a wage structure that mirrors current economic conditions, adding, “The N100,000 proposal is not a living wage.
The workers' body also decried the deteriorating security situation across the nation, stating that workers and ordinary citizens are increasingly exposed to kidnappings, killings, and other violent crimes. It observed that educational institutions have become major targets of criminal attacks, while many victims, including young children, remain trapped in captivity across different parts of the country. Commenting on the situation, the forum stated, “The fear is real, as many federal workers and indeed many more Nigerians are daily falling victims of the system’s failure to guarantee safety,” The group called on the government to take urgent measures to address the insecurity, secure the release of all kidnapped persons, and halt the killings recorded nationwide.
To force the hand of the government, the forum urged the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress to declare an indefinite nationwide strike action over the prevailing hardship and insecurity. The leaders stated, “The poll’s position is to mandate the NLC/TUC to immediately call out workers to proceed on an indefinite strike action,” They also expressed their support for proposed nationwide protests and rallies beginning June 1, pending improvements in security and living standards. The forum demanded that the federal government settle all outstanding arrears owed to workers and introduce a Cost of Living Allowance to cushion the harsh economic environment, while also advocating the convocation of a sovereign national conference to tackle constitutional and governance issues contributing to national challenges.
Concluding its statement, the workers' body gave President Bola Tinubu a 30-day ultimatum to decisively tackle the insecurity, kidnappings, murders, and economic hardship facing Nigerians. The forum warned, “We have witnessed more than enough murder of our people. Enough of these killings, enough of this hardship, enough of this hopelessness, fear and uncertainty,” The forum maintained that the government must fulfill its constitutional responsibility of ensuring security and public welfare, warning that continued inaction could deepen public dissatisfaction across the country.
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