The Federal Workers Forum (FWF) has called on President Bola Tinubu and the National Assembly to urgently review the salaries and allowances of federal civil servants, demanding an increase in the national minimum wage from N70,000 to N300,000.
The workers also proposed a new salary structure under which officers on Grade Level 17 would earn a minimum of N1.5 million monthly, arguing that the existing wage structure has become inadequate in the face of Nigeria’s rising cost of living.
The demands were contained in a letter dated September 2, 2026, signed by the National Coordinator of the FWF, Andrew Emelieze, and its General Secretary, Ogundele Ayodele.
The letter was addressed to the Senate President and the Speaker of the House of Representatives through the Clerk of the National Assembly. The President, the Chief Justice of Nigeria and the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation were also listed among the recipients.
The forum said the proposed wage review had become necessary because the economic conditions confronting federal workers had deteriorated significantly since the introduction of the N70,000 minimum wage.
“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 workers stated.
FWF: N70,000 Wage Not Fully Implemented
The FWF argued that the N70,000 minimum wage approved in 2024 had not been fully implemented across the federal civil service, particularly with respect to consequential adjustments and other allowances.
The forum claimed that federal workers had continued to push for the full implementation of the wage agreement since July 2024.
“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 letter stated.
According to the workers, the 2024 wage review raised the minimum wage from N30,000 to N70,000, but they alleged that the practical effect for federal civil servants amounted to only a uniform N40,000 increase across the various levels.
“Only N40,000 was added to the salaries of every federal worker across all levels,” the forum claimed.
The workers acknowledged that the current minimum wage arrangement was subject to a statutory review period but argued that the severity of the economic crisis required the government to act before the expiration of the three-year cycle.
Rising Cost of Living
The forum said the purchasing power of federal workers had been severely weakened by the rising prices of food, transportation, accommodation, electricity, cooking gas, water, communication and other essential goods and services.
It described the situation 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. 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.
The group claimed that many federal workers were struggling to meet basic household obligations, while some had allegedly resorted to borrowing from microfinance institutions and digital lending platforms to finance 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,” it stated.
The forum further claimed that some workers had been forced to resort to firewood for cooking because of the high cost of cooking gas.
According to the FWF, prolonged financial hardship could have consequences for workers’ morale and productivity and potentially create an environment in which corruption could thrive.
“Federal workers are dying in instalments; we are suffering in silence; our salary is too poor; it is not taking us home,” the forum stated.
Proposed Salary Structure
The FWF attached a proposed salary structure to its letter, with salaries beginning at N300,000 for Grade Level 1 Step 1 workers and rising progressively according to grade level.
Under the proposal, Grade Level 2 workers would earn N330,000, while Level 3 would receive N360,000 and Level 4 N390,000.
Level 5 officers would earn N420,000; Level 6, N450,000; and Level 7, N480,000.
The proposed salary for Level 8 officers is N510,000, while Level 9 would receive N550,000 and Level 10 N600,000.
The forum proposed N700,000 for Level 12 officers, N750,000 for Level 13, N800,000 for Level 14 and N1 million for Level 15.
Level 16 officers would earn N1.2 million, while officers on Level 17 would receive N1.5 million under the proposed structure.
The forum said its N300,000 minimum wage proposal was based on projected monthly expenditure covering feeding, transportation, accommodation, family responsibilities, electricity, cooking gas, communication, water and other basic 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 workers argued.
Demand for Allowances and Arrears
Beyond the basic salary review, the FWF called for the payment of outstanding salaries, promotion arrears and other financial entitlements owed to federal workers.
It also demanded the immediate implementation and payment of arrears of the 40 per cent peculiar allowance, as well as the full consequential adjustment arising from the 2024 minimum wage.
The workers proposed the introduction of a permanent Cost of Living Allowance to cushion employees against future inflation and economic shocks.
They also demanded a Family Support Allowance and an end to what they described as stagnation within the federal civil service.
The forum called for the declaration of vacancies to facilitate promotions and career progression, as well as comprehensive health insurance coverage for serving federal workers and pensioners.
Other demands included improved car and housing loan schemes, long-service awards and better pension arrangements.
The FWF further requested free education for children of federal workers and pensioners in federal institutions, alongside reduced taxation of workers’ allowances and broader tax relief measures.
Broader Social and Economic Demands
The workers’ demands extended beyond salaries and conditions of service.
The forum called on the Federal Government to establish a comprehensive social security programme for unemployed and underemployed Nigerians.
It also urged the government to provide free medical treatment for children, pregnant women and elderly citizens, while establishing federal intervention programmes for the treatment of cancer and other life-threatening illnesses.
On national security, the FWF called for stronger measures to tackle insecurity and secure the release of Nigerians held by kidnappers.
The group also asked the National Assembly to investigate allegations that portions 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.
Call for Urgent Legislative Action
The FWF further called for the reintroduction of petrol subsidy, price-control measures for essential goods and services, increased investment in local production and industrialisation, and policies aimed at reversing the decline in Nigerians’ purchasing power.
The workers urged the National Assembly to take up their demands with the President, insisting that federal civil servants could not afford to wait until July 2027 for another formal review of their wages.
“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 organisation maintained that better remuneration was essential to protecting the welfare of civil servants and ensuring effective implementation of government policies and programmes.
It urged lawmakers and other relevant government officials to treat the demands as an emergency intervention, arguing that the welfare of federal workers was directly connected to the effectiveness of the public service.
The forum concluded its appeal by asking the National Assembly to use its constitutional responsibilities to press for urgent action on the workers’ demands.
“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 stated.
