The Federal Workers Forum (FWF) has threatened to mobilise federal workers for an indefinite nationwide strike over rising insecurity in the country and unresolved wage issues.
In a communique issued after an online meeting at the weekend, the forum upbraided the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) for not rising to the occasion and showing leadership in this respect. In the communiqué released yesterday, the workers accused the Federal Government of exploiting workers and failing to guarantee their safety.
It said an online poll of its members overwhelmingly backed immediate strike action to address the current hardship and insecurity crisis confronting Nigeria. It said the July 2024 minimum wage adjustment has been a hoax for federal workers. According to the forum, only N40,000 was added flat to salaries across all grade levels, and that amount was taxed, leaving workers with much less.
The group also alleged that the promised 40 per cent peculiar allowance, which the Head of Service of the Federation, Mrs Didi Walson-Jack, said would take effect from May 1, 2026, was later denounced by the Office of the Accountant General. The communiqué said: “May 2026 salaries have been paid, but no wage award was given as promised by the Minister of Finance, and consequential adjustments remain outstanding.
“Federal workers are already getting used to forfeiting their promotion arrears and as a matter of fact, some salaries and numerous arrears have entered ‘voice mail’.” It further listed unpaid entitlements to include: two months of wage award arrears since July 2024 and outstanding Duty Tour Allowance arrears. The forum rejected a recent N100,000 minimum wage proposal by the Nigerian Governors’ Forum, calling it a Greek gift meant to keep wages low describing it as “wicked conspiracy against workers.”
The workers demanded a living wage and immediate clearance of all outstanding arrears, and cost of living allowance. On insecurity, FWF said federal workers now live daily in fear and uncertainty, with kidnappings and attacks becoming routine. It condemned recent kidnappings in Oyo and Borno states involving children and teachers.
And in a related development, the spokesperson for the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Benson Upah, has described the proposed N100,000 national minimum wage being considered by state governors as unrealistic, arguing that Nigerian workers should earn as much as N1 million monthly, given prevailing economic conditions.
