Federal workers under the Federal Workers Forum (FWF) have rejected the proposed ₦100,000 national minimum wage, arguing that it remains inadequate to address the escalating cost of living in Nigeria.
The forum stated its position in a communiqué issued on Sunday following a meeting and opinion poll conducted on Saturday to assess workers’ living conditions, inflationary pressures, and the economic challenges confronting employees across the country.
The group, led by National Coordinator Andrew Emelieze, said the prevailing economic environment has made it increasingly difficult for federal workers to maintain a reasonable standard of living.
In the communiqué signed by National Coordinator Andrew Emelieze, National Secretary Ayo Ogundele, and National Mobilisation Officer Aminu Yerima, the forum said workers were struggling under the burden of soaring food prices, rising transportation costs, the impact of fuel subsidy removal, and the continued depreciation of the naira.
According to the forum, these economic pressures have significantly eroded the real value of wages, leaving many employees unable to meet basic household needs despite recent government wage adjustments.
The group noted that although the national minimum wage was recently reviewed to ₦70,000, the increase had not translated into any meaningful improvement in workers’ purchasing power. It alleged that salary adjustments across grade levels were marginal and further diminished by statutory deductions, reducing the overall benefit to workers.
The forum also claimed that many federal employees remain owed a range of entitlements, including promotion arrears, wage awards, and Duty Tour Allowances accumulated over several years. According to the group, these outstanding payments have compounded the financial difficulties faced by workers already grappling with inflation.
The FWF criticised the proposed ₦100,000 minimum wage reportedly being discussed by some state governors, arguing that it does not reflect the realities of current economic hardship. The forum described the amount as insufficient to qualify as a living wage, maintaining that it falls short of what workers require to meet essential living expenses.
“The cost of living has gone beyond what current wages can handle,” the forum said, noting that food inflation, transport costs, and basic household expenses continue to rise sharply across the country.
The group called on the Federal Government to urgently review wage structures in line with prevailing economic realities and introduce a Cost of Living Allowance (COLA) to cushion the impact of inflation on workers.
It also urged the government to prioritise the payment of all outstanding arrears owed to federal employees, warning that continued delays have intensified financial pressures on workers and their families.
The forum maintained that without swift intervention, the gap between wages and living costs would continue to widen, making it increasingly difficult for workers to sustain a decent standard of living and remain productive in the workplace.
The position reflects growing concerns among organisedlabour and employee advocacy groups over the adequacy of wage policies amid persistent inflation and broader cost-of-living pressures affecting Nigerian households.
