Federal Workers Forum (FWF) members have urgently appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to pay the three-month wage award and other outstanding arrears owed to them.
This appeal was made during an online forum meeting held on Saturday.
In a communiqué issued after the meeting, National Coordinator Comrade Andrew Emelieze stated that the Nigerian government is not taking workers seriously.
Emelieze noted that the cost of goods and services has risen by over 300%, while the national currency has significantly devalued, making it extremely difficult for federal workers to feed and survive.
He criticized the government for halting the N35,000 wage award payments since February and appealed to President Tinubu to settle the three-month wage award and all other arrears. Emelieze also suggested that any leader unable to provide a living wage should resign.
“We have observed that the Nigerian government is not taking workers seriously and does not care about their welfare. We are deeply disappointed with the government’s attitude towards workers.
“It appears the government is heartless and indifferent, playing games with the new national minimum wage. This is truly insensitive and mindless.
“Our national currency has been badly devalued, making it very difficult for federal workers to feed and survive in Nigeria. Most regrettably, the government has stopped the payment of the N35,000 wage award since February.
“It is shameful that the government now owes federal workers a three-month wage award, along with various arrears of allowances, promotion arrears, and other payments.
“We cannot continue to suffer unnecessarily; we have endured enough hardship. The federal government should pay the three-month wage award and other arrears owed to federal workers.
“The federal government is not permitted to borrow from our contributory pension fund. We fully support the indefinite national strike action called by labor. Federal workers should ensure full compliance and a complete shutdown of all federal government secretariats nationwide.
“If, after five working days from the start of the indefinite strike, the government remains unresponsive, labor should lead workers to occupy the Three Arms Zone and state government houses nationwide. We call for solidarity and support from the Nigerian people.”
