FEDERAL government employees, under the aegis of Federal Workers Forum (FWF), have threatened that they will not accept anything less than a fair, decent and just living wage.
This is contained in a communiqué issued by FWF at the end of its virtual meeting on Sunday, April 14, 2024.
The communiqué signed by Comrade Andrew Emelieze, National Coordinator of FWF, noted while group backs the call for a just living wage for the Nigerian workers, it is also demanding “for a federal living wage that will reflect the harmonization of wages and pensions in the federal public service.”
The communiqué reads in full:
“COMMUNIQUE ISSUED AT THE END OF AN ONLINE MEETING OF FEDERAL WORKERS NATIONWIDE IN NIGERIA ON SUNDAY 14TH APRIL, 2024 BETWEEN THE HOURS OF 4:00PM AND 8:00PM
“THE NEW NATIONAL MINIMUM WAGE SHOULD ENSURE JUSTICE FOR THE FEDERAL WORKERS, WE WILL NOT ACCEPT ANYTHING LESS THAN A FAIR, DECENT AND JUST LIVING WAGE.
“Rising from a very critical meeting of the Federal Workers Forum, we decided to make known our position on the new national minimum wage to the President of Nigeria through the NLC/TUC.
“We bring you greetings and our best wishes.
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“We at the Federal Workers Forum, comprise of federal workers (civilian/non civilian) in the federal public service, we also have as part of our membership retired federal workers as observers in the forum.
“We are concerned as a federal workforce about the issues of the nascent discussions on the new national minimum wage. We believe strongly that issues of a fair and just minimum wage will promote social justice, productivity and also help to fight against corruption. We therefore, while supporting the call for a just living wage for the Nigerian workers, we also demand for a federal living wage that will reflect the harmonization of wages and pensions in the federal public service.
“Over the years, it has been an apartheid discriminatory wage payment in the federal public service. While a few Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDA) are well paid, majority of the MDA’s are discriminated against. It so bad that the Directors and their likes in the affected MDA’s earns far less than officers very junior to them in the juicy MDA’s. The case has always been that some MDA’s are finance generating and so they must be better paid. It is time to stop this discriminatory payment. It is time to terminate this ugly fallacy that promotes segregation and inequality. All work types are complimentary and so their should not be room for any primitive pay discrimination in the federal public service in Nigeria.
“While we appreciate Mr President for the ₦35,000 wage award, we make bold to say that the ₦35,000 palliative did not solve the economic challenges faced by the federal government workers in Nigeria. It has been an hellish existence for the federal workers since the removal of subsidy on petrol and the subsequent devaluation of the naira. It has been the story of hardship everywhere; survival has been very difficult and everything has been nauseating. However, federal workers have been enduring this hardship, and now that the government and labour is discussing the new national minimum wage, we demand that
“1. A federal wage structure that will harmonize all salaries and pensions in the federal public service.
“2 A federal minimum wage of ₦300,000 monthly
“3. A federal maximum wage of ₦1.5 million monthly.
“4. A federal pension that will reflect proportionate changes with workers pay rise.
“5. That provisions be made for the return of leave bonus
“6. As a sign of appreciation, that the federal government should make provisions for long service award package for workers.
“7. That the new national minimum wage takes off officially on April 1st, 2024 and that we expect the announcement of the new national minimum wage latest on Workers’ day May 1st, 2024.
“We appreciate labour for their doggedness so far and we urge the President of the NLC/TUC to convey our request to the President of the federal republic of Nigeria, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“Our position is very clear, President Tinubu has promised a living wage, federal workers will not accept anything less. With the present cost of living crisis ₦300,000 which is not up to 1% of the President’s salary, will not be too much for a federal minimum wage. For daily survival, a worker will need an average of ₦2,000 daily transport and at least ₦2.000 per meal hence, a worker will be needing an average of ₦10,000 (at around $1 per hour) to manage to survive daily. Likewise, it won’t be out of place to pay our Directors, Generals, Professors and their likes at around ₦1.5 million maximum wage; these are level of workers that have spent thirty years and above in the federal public service.
“We call for justice, we demand for a decent, fair and just living wage for the federal work force. We will resist and reject anything less than a living wage.
“Our government should also not forget to clear all outstanding arrears owed the federal workers.
“We specially call on the NLC/TUC to be very reasonable and pragmatic in their negotiation for a new national minimum wage. We are in total support of the position of the NLC/TUC for a yearly review of the national minimum wage.
“The Federal government is also called upon not to in anyway devalue the naira after the implementation of the new national minimum wage.
“Federal workers have suffered enough, it is time to end poverty among the federal government workers.
“In solidarity,
“Comrade Andrew Emelieze.
“08054444090
“National Coordinator (FWF).
“Former Chairman Oyo State TUC.
“Former Member National Executive Council (NEC) of the TUC.”
