Federal workers under the aegis of the Federal Workers Forum (FWF) have issued a renewed appeal to the Federal Government led by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, urging the immediate payment of their outstanding three-month wage award.
In a statement released to the press on Wednesday, the FWF’s National Coordinator, Comrade Andrew Emelieze, criticised the government’s failure to fulfil its promise regarding the ₦35,000 monthly wage award – a temporary relief measure introduced following the removal of fuel subsidies.
According to Emelieze, the non-payment of the outstanding balance, despite assurances from the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation, reflects a concerning pattern in the government’s treatment of its workforce.
“The refusal of the federal government to pay up the balance of the outstanding three months wage award as promised by the Accountant General of the Federation has shown clearly how our government has been treating her workers,” Emelieze stated.
The wage award, initially introduced under pressure from organised labour as a response to the rising cost of living and the currency devaluation that followed fuel subsidy removal, has reportedly been paid inconsistently. Workers have since expressed frustration over the delay and irregularity of the payments.
Beyond the immediate demand for the wage award, the FWF is also calling for the settlement of longstanding promotion arrears, which in some cases have remained unpaid for over a decade.
Comrade Emelieze further urged the government to introduce a formal cost of living allowance (COLA), proposing a 30% increase on current salaries to reflect the economic realities faced by civil servants.
He did not mince words in his criticism of the current minimum wage structure, describing the new ₦70,000 figure as a “slave wage” and calling for its outright abolition.
“We are calling on the federal government to clear the backlog of promotion arrears owed federal workers. We call on the government to work out a cost of living allowance, preferably 30% of our salaries, to cushion the economic hardship,” he added.
The statement comes amid wider discussions on wage reforms and labour welfare, with organised labour groups expected to increase pressure on the government in the coming months.
