The Federal Workers Forum (FWF) has announced plans to stage a nationwide protest on Monday to demand a review of workers’ wages, the payment of outstanding entitlements, and improved welfare for federal employees.
In a statement issued on Thursday in Abuja, the National Coordinator of the FWF, Andrew Emelieze, said the decision followed an emergency online meeting involving federal workers from across the country. He explained that the planned action had become necessary because many workers had yet to fully benefit from the implementation of the ₦70,000 national minimum wage and were still being owed several outstanding entitlements.
According to the forum, the protest will be peaceful and will take place simultaneously at federal secretariats nationwide, with participants also picketing selected government institutions.
Emelieze said the demonstration was intended to draw attention to the plight of federal workers and the urgent need for responsible governance and effective leadership.
“We have also encouraged federal workers to wear black attire every Monday as a symbol of protest against insecurity and the prevailing economic hardship in the country,” he said.
He maintained that collective action had become unavoidable because many federal workers had yet to fully benefit from the implementation of the ₦70,000 national minimum wage approved by the Federal Government.
Emelieze also decried the non-payment of the outstanding balance of the wage award, promotion arrears, the 40 per cent peculiar allowance, and other benefits owed to federal workers.
“The government must immediately pay the outstanding wage award balance, fully disburse the 40 per cent peculiar allowance, and clear all promotion arrears owed to federal workers,” he said.
The FWF National Coordinator described the current ₦70,000 minimum wage as inadequate in light of prevailing economic realities, urging the Federal Government to review it without delay to reflect the rising cost of living.
“To continue to pay a ₦70,000 minimum wage under the current economic realities is unacceptable. The wage must be reviewed immediately,” he said.
Emelieze also called on the Federal Government to intensify efforts to address insecurity and secure the release of the kidnapped children in Oyo State, as well as other citizens being held captive across the country.
“We call on the Federal Government to immediately secure the release of the kidnapped children in Oyo State and all other citizens being held captive across the country,” he said.
He further urged the government to introduce a Cost of LivingAllowance (COLA) for workers or, alternatively, immediately resume the payment of wage awards.
In addition, Emelieze called for free education for the children of federal workers in federal educational institutions, the establishment of a functional car loan scheme, and the introduction of a special family support allowance to help civil servants meet their family responsibilities amid the country’s economic challenges.
He also advocated the reduction or removal of tariffs on essential goods and services to ease the financial burden on citizens and improve living standards.
Expressing concern over what he described as the silence of organised labour on issues affecting workers and the wider public, Emelieze urged the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) to declare a two-day nationwide strike and protest against insecurity and economic hardship.
“We call on the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress to immediately declare a two-day national strike and protest against insecurity and hardship in the country,” he said.
