The Federal Workers Forum (FWF) has called on President Bola Tinubu and the National Assembly to immediately review the pay of federal civil servants, proposing an increase in the minimum wage from N70,000 to N300,000.
In a letter dated September 2, 2026, the group also proposed a N1.5 million salary for Level 17 officers, saying the existing wage structure no longer reflects the financial pressures facing federal workers.
The letter was signed by FWF National Coordinator Andrew Emelieze and General Secretary Ogundele Ayodele. It was sent to the Senate President and the 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 copied.
The workers wrote: “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 its demand followed what it described as incomplete implementation of the N70,000 minimum wage approved in 2024. It alleged that federal workers were yet to receive the full consequential adjustment and related allowances.
“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 group stated.
According to the FWF, the 2024 wage review raised the minimum wage from N30,000 to N70,000 but resulted in a uniform N40,000 addition to salaries across all federal civil-service levels.
“Only N40,000 was added to the salaries of every federal worker across all levels,” the forum said.
The demand comes as discussions continue over the implementation of the 2024 minimum wage and associated allowances. The N70,000 benchmark replaced the former N30,000 minimum wage after negotiations between the Federal Government and organised labour, with a review expected after three years.
However, the FWF argued that the statutory review timeline should not stop the government from responding to the worsening cost-of-living situation.
“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 cited higher costs of food, transport, rent, electricity, cooking gas and other basic needs as reasons the N70,000 minimum wage is no longer sufficient.
“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 group also alleged that many workers had become indebted to microfinance banks and digital lending platforms just to meet 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,” the group said.
It further claimed that some workers had turned to firewood because cooking gas had become unaffordable. The forum warned that sustained financial pressure could reduce productivity and increase the risk of 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 FWF maintained that civil servants should benefit from higher government revenues, describing federal workers as central to the functioning of government.
“The federal workers are the goose that lays the golden egg, but we are alienated from our labour,” it said.
Proposed Salary Structure
The pay structure attached to the letter proposes N300,000 for Level 1, Step 1 workers, increasing gradually to N1.5 million for Level 17, Step 1 officers.
- 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 workers said the N300,000 minimum-wage proposal was calculated around average monthly costs for food, transport, accommodation, family support, electricity, cooking gas, phone and data services, 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.
Additional Demands
The FWF also requested:
- Payment of outstanding salaries, promotion arrears and other unpaid entitlements.
- Immediate implementation and arrears payment of the 40 per cent peculiar allowance.
- Full consequential adjustment of the 2024 minimum wage.
- A permanent Cost of Living Allowance and Family Support Allowance.
- An end to stagnation in the civil service and declaration of promotion vacancies.
- Comprehensive health insurance for federal workers and pensioners.
- Car and housing loan schemes, long-service awards and improved pension arrangements.
- Free education in federal institutions for children of federal workers and pensioners.
- Lower taxes on workers’ allowances and additional tax-relief measures.
Beyond pay issues, the group urged the government to establish a broad social-security programme for unemployed and underemployed Nigerians. It also sought free medical care for children, pregnant women and older citizens, as well as federal treatment-support programmes for cancer and other life-threatening illnesses.
The forum further called for stronger action against insecurity, including efforts to secure the release of kidnapped Nigerians.
It demanded an inquiry into reports that the executive may be borrowing from workers’ contributory pension savings.
“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 FWF additionally called for the return of petrol subsidy, price controls for essential goods and services, stronger local production and industrialisation, and policies to address Nigeria’s declining purchasing power.
The group urged the National Assembly to press the matter with the President, insisting that federal workers should not be required to wait until July 2027 for another wage review.
“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,” it said.
The forum appealed to lawmakers and other public officials to treat its request as an emergency intervention, arguing that better wages are essential to workers’ welfare and 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.”
Sources
