The Federal Workers Forum (FWF) has accused the Nigerian government of failing to fully implement the ₦70,000 new national minimum wage approved in July 2024, saying workers across the federal civil service are facing worsening hardship and can no longer cope with the rising cost of living.
The group, in a press release dated Wednesday, September 2, and addressed to the Senate President, Speaker of the House of Representatives, President Bola Tinubu, the Chief Justice of the Federation and the Head of Service of the Federation, demanded an immediate upward review of the federal minimum wage to ₦300,000.
The FWF also proposed a maximum salary of ₦1.5million for Level 17 officers, arguing that the proposed wage structure would better reflect the economic realities facing workers and help harmonise pay across the public service.
According to the workers, the Federal Government has not fully implemented the new minimum wage since July 2024, despite repeated demands for a consequential adjustment to salaries and allowances.
The group said, "It will surprise you to hear that the federal government have not fully implemented the new national minimum wage since July 2024."
It added that workers had been engaged in a prolonged struggle for the "full consequential adjustment of the new minimum wage" but that the process had yet to be completed.
The FWF claimed that "ONLY ₦40,000 WAS ADDED TO THE SALARIES OF EVERY FEDERAL WORKER ACROSS ALL LEVELS," arguing that the same flat increase was applied across Levels 1 to 17.
"The last review of the salary in July 2024 gave us ₦70,000 as the new national minimum wage, with only ₦40,000 added to the previous ₦30,000," the group said.
The workers also raised concerns over the non-payment of the 40 per cent peculiar allowance and other outstanding entitlements.
"The new Minister of Finance equally promised the payment of the balance of the peculiar allowance lattest August 15th but not yet paid as at now," the group alleged.
The FWF said the failure to adjust workers' earnings in line with inflation and the rising cost of essential goods and services had subjected federal workers to unprecedented hardship.
"While the federal government is making more money now, the federal workers are underpaid and subjected to unprecedented sufferings and hardship," it said.
The group argued that increasing government revenues and budgetary allocations should translate into better welfare for workers, whom it described as "the engine room of governance."
It also criticised the impact of the removal of petrol subsidy and the depreciation of the naira on workers' purchasing power.
"Despite 500% increments in the price of petrol and the deliberate devaluation of the naira, only ₦40,000 was added to the salaries of each federal worker," the FWF said.
The workers warned that the current situation could undermine efficiency in the public service and potentially encourage corruption.
"This current situation will not promote efficiency rather it will promote corruption and it is not the best for our collective interest," the group said.
The FWF said workers were already struggling to feed their families, pay for transportation and meet other basic needs.
"Federal workers are dying in installments, we are suffering in silence, our salary is too poor, it is not taking us home," it said.
It further claimed that some workers had resorted to borrowing from microfinance institutions and phone loan applications to meet transportation costs, while some could no longer afford cooking gas.
"Federal workers are now heavily indebted to micro finances and in most times, federal workers result to phone loan apps inoder to get transportation to work," the statement said.
The group rejected the idea of waiting until July 2027 for another national minimum wage review, describing the situation as an emergency requiring immediate intervention.
"We cannot wait till July 2027 for a new national minimum wage," it said.
The FWF proposed a ₦300,000 minimum wage based on its calculation of workers' monthly expenses, including feeding, transportation, accommodation, family feeding, family support, electricity bills, cooking gas, phone/data, water and other utilities.
Under its proposed salary structure, Level 1 Step 1 workers would earn ₦300,000, while Level 2 would receive ₦330,000 and Level 3 ₦360,000. The proposal rises progressively to ₦1 million for Level 15, ₦1.2 million for Level 16 and ₦1.5 million for Level 17 officers.
The group also called for the payment of outstanding salaries and promotion arrears, immediate implementation of the 40 per cent peculiar allowance, full consequential adjustment of the minimum wage and payment of arrears dating back to July 2024.
Other demands included a permanent Cost of Living Allowance, Family Support Allowance, improved health insurance, car and housing loans, harmonisation of salaries and pensions, and an end to what it described as heavy taxation of workers' allowances.
The FWF also called for free education for children of federal workers and pensioners in federal institutions, standardisation of pensions, social security payments for unemployed and underemployed Nigerians, and the return of petrol subsidy.
The group urged the National Assembly to urgently intervene, saying federal workers had "suffered enough."
"As a matter of fact, it is suicidal for the federal workers to continue in this ugly situation," the FWF said, urging lawmakers to act on what it described as "a distress call and an emergency situation."
The group also asked the National Assembly to investigate reports that part of workers' contributory pension savings was being borrowed by the executive, calling for an immediate stoppage and refund if the allegation was found to be true.
"We call for investigations and an immediate stoppage cum refund if it is true," it said.
The FWF concluded by urging the National Assembly and the Federal Government to respond to its demands and ensure what it described as "a just and fair wage" for federal workers.
Post a Comment