By Jimmy Fatunbi
The Federal Workers Forum (FWF) has called on President Bola Tinubu and the National Assembly to urgently review the salaries of federal civil servants and raise the national minimum wage for federal workers from N70,000 to N300,000.
The demand was contained in a letter dated September 2, 2026, signed by the forum’s National Coordinator, Andrew Emelieze, and General Secretary, Ogundele Ayodele.
The letter was addressed to the Senate President and Speaker of the House of Representatives through the Clerk of the National Assembly, with President Tinubu, the Chief Justice of Nigeria and the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation listed as recipients.
The workers also proposed a new salary structure that would place the highest-paid Level 17 Step 1 officer on a monthly salary of N1.5 million.
According to the forum, the current wage structure has failed to reflect the economic realities facing federal workers, particularly amid rising costs of food, transportation, accommodation, electricity, cooking gas and other 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 forum stated.
The FWF said its demand was partly driven by what it described as the incomplete implementation of the N70,000 minimum wage approved in 2024.
It alleged that federal workers had not received the full consequential adjustment and other allowances associated with the wage increase.
“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.
The forum noted that the 2024 wage review raised the minimum wage from N30,000 to N70,000 but alleged that the adjustment resulted in only N40,000 being added to the salaries of federal workers across all levels.
“Only N40,000 was added to the salaries of every federal worker across all levels,” it claimed.
Workers seek urgent salary review
The latest demand comes amid continuing concerns over the implementation of the 2024 minimum wage and the adequacy of workers’ salaries in the face of rising living costs.
Although the N70,000 minimum wage was introduced following negotiations between the Federal Government and organised labour, with the new wage framework expected to undergo review after three years, the FWF argued that the statutory review period should not prevent the government from taking emergency measures.
The group described the deterioration in workers’ purchasing power as an emergency requiring immediate government intervention.
“As a matter of fact, it is suicidal for the federal workers to continue in this ugly situation,” the forum said. “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 workers said their salaries were no longer sufficient to meet basic household needs.
“Federal workers have been enduring the situation, and everything has been frustrating and nauseating. We cannot cope again. Federal workers are dying in instalments; we are suffering in silence; our salary is too poor; it is not taking us home,” the letter stated.
The forum further alleged that some federal workers had become heavily indebted to microfinance institutions and digital lending platforms to finance basic expenses, including transportation to work.
“Federal workers are now heavily indebted to microfinances and, most times, federal workers resort to phone loan apps to get transportation to work,” it said.
It also claimed that some workers had resorted to using firewood because of the rising cost of cooking gas.
According to the forum, the financial pressure on workers could eventually affect productivity and create an environment that encourages corruption.
“While the Federal Government is making more money now, the federal workers are underpaid and subjected to unprecedented sufferings and hardship,” the workers said.
Proposed salary structure
The FWF said its proposed salary structure was designed to reflect the current cost of living and the responsibilities attached to various levels of the federal civil service.
Under the proposal, Level 1 Step 1 workers would earn N300,000 monthly, while salaries would rise progressively to N1.5 million for Level 17 Step 1 officers.
The proposed structure includes:
Level 1: N300,000
Level 2: N330,000
Level 3: N360,000
Level 4: N390,000
Level 5: N420,000
Level 6: N450,000
Level 7: N480,000
Level 8: N510,000
Level 9: N550,000
Level 10: N600,000
Level 12: N700,000
Level 13: N750,000
Level 14: N800,000
Level 15: N1 million
Level 16: N1.2 million
Level 17: N1.5 million
The forum said its N300,000 minimum wage proposal was based on estimated monthly expenses covering feeding, transportation, accommodation, family support, electricity, cooking gas, telecommunications, water and other household needs.
It argued that the proposed structure could still be accommodated within the federal budget, citing increased government revenues and earnings from crude oil sales.
“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,” the forum said.
Other demands
Beyond the proposed salary increase, the FWF called for the payment of outstanding salaries, promotion arrears and other entitlements owed federal workers.
It also demanded 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 further called for a permanent Cost of Living Allowance, Family Support Allowance, an end to stagnation in the civil service and the declaration of vacancies to facilitate promotions.
Other demands included comprehensive health insurance for federal workers and pensioners, car and housing loan schemes, long-service awards and improved pension arrangements.
The forum also sought free education for the children of federal workers and pensioners in federal institutions, as well as lower taxation on workers’ allowances and other tax relief measures.
The group extended its demands beyond the civil service, urging the government to establish a comprehensive social security programme for unemployed and underemployed Nigerians.
It also called for free medical care for children, pregnant women and elderly citizens, alongside federal intervention programmes for the treatment of cancer and other life-threatening diseases.
On security, the FWF urged the government to intensify efforts to tackle insecurity and secure the release of kidnapped Nigerians.
Pension funds, subsidy and cost of living
The workers also urged the National Assembly to investigate reports that part of workers’ contributory pension savings may have been 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 FWF further called for the return of petrol subsidy, price-control measures for essential goods and services, stronger support for local production and industrialisation, and measures to reverse the decline in Nigerians’ purchasing power.
The forum appealed to the National Assembly to take up its demands with President Tinubu, insisting that federal workers should not have to wait until July 2027 for a review of their salaries.
“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.
The FWF urged the lawmakers and other government officials to treat its demands as an emergency intervention, arguing that improved wages were necessary to protect workers’ welfare and improve their capacity to implement government policies effectively.
“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 workers concluded.
