The Federal Workers Forum (FWF) has urged the Federal Government to urgently review the salaries of civil servants, demanding that the minimum wage be raised from N70,000 to N300,000.
The workers also proposed N1.5 million as the monthly salary for Level 17 Step 1 officers, saying the existing wage structure had become grossly inadequate in the face of the rising cost of living.
The demands were contained in a letter dated September 2, 2026, addressed to President Bola Tinubu and the National Assembly.
The letter was signed by the National Coordinator of the forum, Andrew Emelieze, and the General Secretary, Ogundele Ayodele.
It was addressed to the Senate President and Speaker of the House of Representatives through the Clerk of the National Assembly, while the President, Chief Justice of Nigeria and Head of the Civil Service of the Federation were listed as recipients.
The FWF said the review had become necessary because federal workers were struggling to survive on their current salaries amid rising costs of food, transportation, accommodation, electricity, cooking gas and other basic necessities.
“We call for justice and immediate wage review now, adjust the federal minimum wage to N300,000 and a maximum wage of N1.5m for the Level 17 officers,” the group stated.
The forum also accused the Federal Government of failing to fully implement the N70,000 minimum wage introduced in 2024, particularly the consequential adjustment and related allowances.
According to the workers, the 2024 wage increase, which raised the national minimum wage from N30,000 to N70,000, effectively translated into a uniform N40,000 increase in the salaries of federal workers across the various levels.
“It will surprise you to hear that the Federal Government has not fully implemented the new national minimum wage since July 2024. We have been in the battle for full consequential adjustment of the new minimum wage,” the workers said.
“Only N40,000 was added to the salaries of every federal worker across all levels.”
Although the new minimum wage framework provides for a review after three years, the forum argued that the government should not wait until the end of the period before responding to the worsening economic conditions.
It said the dramatic erosion of workers’ purchasing power had created an emergency that required immediate intervention.
“As a matter of fact, it is suicidal for the federal workers to continue in this ugly situation. Hence, based on the current cost-of-living crisis, it can only be a matter of justice that the federal wages be immediately reviewed to meet up with the current economic realities in Nigeria,” the forum said.
The workers claimed that the financial pressure had forced some civil servants to borrow from microfinance institutions and digital lending platforms simply to meet their daily needs.
“Federal workers are now heavily indebted to microfinances and, most times, federal workers resort to phone loan apps to get transportation to work,” they alleged.
The group further claimed that some workers had resorted to using firewood because they could no longer afford cooking gas.
It warned that continued hardship among civil servants could affect productivity and create an environment that could encourage corrupt practices.
“While the Federal Government is making more money now, the federal workers are underpaid and subjected to unprecedented sufferings and hardship,” the forum said.
The FWF argued that workers who constitute the “engine room of governance” should benefit from the country’s increased revenues.
“The federal workers are the goose that lays the golden egg, but we are alienated from our labour,” it stated.
Proposed salary structure
The proposed salary structure submitted by the forum places the monthly pay of a Level 1 Step 1 worker at N300,000.
The salary would rise to N330,000 for Level 2, N360,000 for Level 3, N390,000 for Level 4, N420,000 for Level 5, N450,000 for Level 6 and N480,000 for Level 7.
The forum proposed N510,000 for Level 8 officers, N550,000 for Level 9 and N600,000 for Level 10.
It put the salary for Level 12 at N700,000, Level 13 at N750,000 and Level 14 at N800,000.
Officers on Level 15 would receive N1 million, while Level 16 officers would earn N1.2 million and Level 17 officers N1.5 million.
The workers said the proposed N300,000 minimum wage was calculated against estimated monthly expenses on food, transportation, housing, family responsibilities, electricity, cooking gas, telephone and data services, water and other utilities.
The forum expressed confidence that the government could fund the proposed wage structure from increased earnings.
“Our projections here are fair, and we believe it can still be accommodated in the present budget based on the daily increased earnings and the excess crude oil sales earnings,” it said.
More demands
Beyond the proposed salary increase, the FWF demanded the payment of outstanding salaries, promotion arrears and other entitlements owed federal employees.
It also called for immediate payment of arrears of the 40 per cent peculiar allowance and full implementation of the consequential adjustment arising from the 2024 minimum wage.
The workers want the government to introduce a permanent Cost of Living Allowance and Family Support Allowance, while also ending stagnation in the civil service and declaring vacancies to facilitate promotions.
Other demands include comprehensive health insurance for serving workers and pensioners, car and housing loan schemes, long-service awards and improved pension arrangements.
The forum also sought free education for children of federal workers and pensioners in federal institutions, alongside reduced taxation on workers’ allowances and other tax relief measures.
The group extended its demands beyond the civil service, asking the Federal Government to establish a comprehensive social security system for unemployed and underemployed Nigerians.
It called for free medical treatment for children, pregnant women and elderly citizens, as well as federal intervention programmes to support the treatment of cancer and other life-threatening diseases.
On security, the workers urged the government to intensify efforts to combat insecurity and secure the release of kidnapped Nigerians.
The FWF also called on the National Assembly to investigate allegations that part of workers’ contributory pension savings was being borrowed by the executive.
“We like to bring to the notice of the National Assembly that we are hearing rumours that part of our contributory pension savings is being borrowed by the executive. We are calling for investigations and an immediate stoppage cum refund if it is true,” the forum stated.
The workers further advocated the return of petrol subsidy, price controls for essential goods and services, increased support for local production and industrialisation, and measures to restore the purchasing power of Nigerians.
The forum urged the National Assembly to take up the matter with President Tinubu, stressing that federal workers should not be compelled to wait until July 2027 before their salaries are reviewed.
“Federal workers have suffered enough. It has been three years of torture, torment and agony for the federal workers since the removal of fuel subsidy,” the group said.
It appealed to the lawmakers and other government officials to treat the demands as an emergency, arguing that improved remuneration would not only protect workers from worsening hardship but also enhance their ability to deliver government policies.
“It is our prayers that the National Assembly, being the representative of the people, take up our plea with the utmost responsibility and act accordingly to ensure a just society,” the FWF said.
Leave a Reply