The Federal Workers Forum has demanded an immediate review of the salaries of federal civil servants, proposing an increase in the national minimum wage from N70,000 to N300,000.
The forum also proposed a maximum salary of N1.5m for Level 17 officers, saying the current wage structure no longer reflects the economic realities confronting federal workers.
The demands were contained in a letter dated September 2, 2026, addressed to President Bola Tinubu and the National Assembly.
The letter, signed by the National Coordinator of the FWF, Andrew Emelieze, and its General Secretary, Ogundele Ayodele, was addressed to the Senate President and Speaker of the House of Representatives through the Clerk of the National Assembly.
The President, Chief Justice of Nigeria and Head of the Civil Service of the Federation were also listed among the recipients.
The workers said their demand for a wage review was necessary because of the rising cost of living and what they described as the incomplete implementation of the N70,000 minimum wage approved in 2024.
“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 said.
The FWF alleged that the Federal Government had yet to fully implement the consequential adjustment and other allowances arising from the 2024 minimum wage agreement.
“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,” it stated.
According to the forum, the 2024 wage review raised the minimum wage from N30,000 to N70,000 but resulted in what it described as a flat N40,000 increase across all levels of the federal civil service.
“Only N40,000 was added to the salaries of every federal worker across all levels,” the group claimed.
The latest demand comes amid continued concerns over the implementation of the 2024 minimum wage and the worsening purchasing power of workers.
The FWF argued that although the new minimum wage is subject to a three-year review, the statutory review period should not prevent the government from responding to what it described as an emergency deterioration in workers’ living conditions.
“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 complained that the rising cost of food, transportation, accommodation, electricity, cooking gas and other necessities had made the N70,000 minimum wage inadequate.
“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 in a bid to meet their daily expenses.
“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.
The group also claimed that some workers had resorted to using firewood because they could no longer afford cooking gas.
It warned that the worsening financial situation could affect workers’ productivity and create conditions that could encourage 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.
The forum argued that federal workers, whom it described as the “engine room of governance,” should benefit from improved government revenue.
“The federal workers are the goose that lays the golden egg, but we are alienated from our labour,” it stated.
Proposed salary structure
Under the proposed salary structure, Level 1 Step 1 workers would earn N300,000 monthly, with salaries rising progressively to N1.5m for Level 17 Step 1 officers.
The proposed salaries include 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; N550,000 for Level 9; N600,000 for Level 10; N700,000 for Level 12; N750,000 for Level 13; N800,000 for Level 14; N1m for Level 15; N1.2m for Level 16 and N1.5m for Level 17 officers.
The workers said the N300,000 minimum wage proposal was based on estimated monthly expenses covering feeding, transportation, accommodation, family support, electricity, cooking gas, telephone and data, water and other utilities.
“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
Apart from the wage review, the FWF demanded the payment of all outstanding salaries, promotion arrears and other entitlements owed federal workers.
It also called for the immediate implementation and payment of arrears of the 40 per cent peculiar allowance, full consequential adjustment of the 2024 minimum wage and introduction of a permanent Cost of Living Allowance.
Other demands include a Family Support Allowance, an end to stagnation in the civil service, declaration of vacancies for promotions, comprehensive health insurance for federal workers and pensioners, car and housing loan schemes, long-service awards and improved pension arrangements.
The forum also demanded free education for the children of federal workers and pensioners in federal institutions, reduced taxation of workers’ allowances and tax relief measures.
Beyond workers’ welfare, the FWF urged the government to introduce a comprehensive social security programme for unemployed and underemployed Nigerians, provide free medical care for children, pregnant women and elderly citizens, and establish federal intervention programmes for the treatment of cancer and other life-threatening diseases.
It also called for stronger measures to tackle insecurity and secure the release of kidnapped Nigerians.
The forum further demanded an investigation into reports 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,” it stated.
The workers also called for the return of petrol subsidy, price-control measures for essential goods and services, stronger local production and industrialisation, and measures to address the declining purchasing power of Nigerians.
The FWF urged the National Assembly to take up its demands with President Tinubu, insisting that federal workers could not afford to wait until July 2027 before their salaries were 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 forum said.
The group appealed to lawmakers and other government officials to treat its demands as an emergency intervention, arguing that improved wages were necessary to protect workers’ welfare and enhance their ability to effectively implement 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 forum concluded.
