The Federal Workers Forum (FWF) has rejected the proposed N100,000 national
minimum wage, describing it as inadequate and incapable of addressing prevailing
economic realities facing Nigerian workers.
This is contained in a communiqué issued on Sunday at the end of a meeting and
opinion poll held on Saturday to deliberate on hardship and insecurity across the
country.
The communiqué was jointly signed by Mr Andrew Emelieze, National
Coordinator of FWF, Mr Ayo Ogundele, National Secretary, and Mr Aminu
Yerima, National Mobilisation officer of the forum.
The forum said federal workers were grappling with worsening living conditions,
low wages, unpaid arrears and rising insecurity, despite repeated government
assurances on workers’ welfare.
According to the communiqué, the implementation of the N70,000 national
minimum wage has fallen short of workers’ expectations and has failed to improve
their purchasing power.
It alleged that only N40,000 was added uniformly to salaries across grade levels
and that deductions further reduced the actual benefits received by workers.
The forum also expressed concern over the non-implementation of the 40 per cent
peculiar allowance and outstanding wage award arrears promised by government
officials.
“Federal workers nationwide are living daily in fear and uncertainty. We are
constantly confronted with the challenges of survival and safety,” they said.
“Workers have continued to face severe economic hardship arising from inflation,
high living costs, fuel subsidy removal and declining value of the naira.
“Many federal workers are still being owed promotion arrears, wage awards, Duty
Tour Allowances and other entitlements accumulated over several years,” the
forum said.
On the proposed N100,000 minimum wage reportedly canvassed by governors, the
forum said the offer fell far below what could be regarded as a living wage.
“To us, this is the height of hypocrisy. These same governors, most of whom said
they could not afford the N70,000 minimum wage, are now proposing N100,000,”
it said.
The forum described the proposal as a “Greek gift” and urged authorities to follow
due process in negotiating a wage that reflects current economic realities.
“The N100,000 proposal is not a living wage. We condemn and reject this proposal
in all its forms and entirety,” the forum stated.
The forum also decried the worsening security situation, saying workers and
ordinary citizens were increasingly exposed to kidnappings, killings and other
violent crimes.
It noted that schools had become major targets of criminal attacks, while many
victims, including children, remained in captivity across different parts of the
country.
“The fear is real, as many federal workers and indeed many more Nigerians are
daily falling victims of the system’s failure to guarantee safety,” it stated.
The forum called on government to take urgent measures to address insecurity,
secure the release of kidnapped persons and halt the killings recorded nationwide.
The forum further urged the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union
Congress (TUC) to declare an indefinite nationwide strike over hardship and
insecurity.
“The poll’s position is to mandate the NLC/TUC to immediately call out workers
to proceed on an indefinite strike action,” they stated.
They also expressed support for proposed nationwide protests and rallies beginning
June 1, pending improvements in security and living conditions.
The forum called on the Federal Government to settle all outstanding arrears owed
workers and introduce a Cost of Living Allowance (COLA) to cushion economic
hardship.
The forum also advocated the convocation of a sovereign national conference to
address constitutional and governance issues it identified as contributing to
national challenges.
The workers body further gave President Bola Tinubu a 30-day ultimatum to tackle
insecurity, kidnappings, killings and economic hardship facing Nigerians.
“We have witnessed more than enough murder of our people. Enough of these
killings, enough of this hardship, enough of this hopelessness, fear and
uncertainty,” it said.
The forum said that government must fulfil its constitutional responsibility of
ensuring security and welfare, warning that continued inaction could deepen public
dissatisfaction.
