…Says NLC, TUC Passivity On Issues Alarming
THE FEDERAL Workers Forum (FWF) has announced plans to stage nationwide peaceful protests on Monday, June 29, to demand an immediate upward review of the national minimum wage, payment of outstanding workers’ entitlements and decisive government action to end the worsening insecurity and economic hardship across the country.
The decision is contained in a communiqué issued at the end of a virtual emergency meeting of federal workers held on Wednesday, June 24, following the forum’s general meeting last Sunday.
The communiqué is signed by the FWF National Coordinator, Comrade Andrew Emelieze, and the General Secretary, Comrade Ayo Ogundele.
The forum said workers across the federation unanimously resolved that collective action had become inevitable in the face of what it described as deteriorating living conditions, persistent insecurity and government’s failure to fulfil its obligations to federal workers.
The planned action will be held under the campaign hashtags: “#OccupyAllFederalSecretariat”, “#OccupyFinanceMinistry”, “#OccupyNLC”, “#OccupyTUC” and “#ImmediateWageReview”.
According to the communiqué, the nationwide protest will be held simultaneously across all federal secretariats, with participants also picketing the Federal Ministry of Finance, the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation, and the national secretariats of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC).
The FWF also directed federal workers to wear black attire every Monday as a symbolic protest against insecurity, economic hardship and what it described as the government’s failure to protect lives and improve workers’ welfare.
The forum expressed deep concern over the prevailing security situation, saying the country had become gripped by fear due to incessant killings, kidnappings and violent attacks.
It called on the Federal Government to immediately secure the release of the abducted children in Oyo State and all other victims of kidnapping across Nigeria.
“We are disturbed by the lawlessness and daily killings occurring everywhere in our country. We are worried that many more citizens are being kidnapped and held captive nationwide,” the communiqué stated, adding that Nigerians were living in fear and uncertainty.
FWF equally lamented what it described as government’s continued indebtedness to federal workers despite the approval of the ₦70,000 national minimum wage.
According to the forum, many workers are yet to benefit fully from the implementation of the new wage structure, while the outstanding two-month wage award balance dating back to June 2024 remains unpaid.
The communiqué further alleged that the 40 per cent peculiar allowance approved for federal workers has not been paid since July 2024, while promotion arrears and several other outstanding entitlements also remain unsettled.
The forum demanded the immediate payment of all outstanding wage awards, full implementation of the new national minimum wage for all federal workers, immediate disbursement of the 40 per cent peculiar allowance, payment of promotion arrears and settlement of every outstanding debt owed workers.
While acknowledging the implementation of the ₦70,000 minimum wage, the forum insisted that the amount had become grossly inadequate due to the country’s economic realities.
“To continue to pay ₦70,000 minimum wage is a crime against humanity. Given the current economic realities, the ₦70,000 minimum wage is insufficient and must be reviewed immediately,” the communiqué stated.
The workers also demanded the immediate introduction of a Cost of Living Allowance (COLA) for all federal workers or, alternatively, the resumption of wage award payments pending a comprehensive wage review.
As part of broader economic relief measures, the forum urged the Federal Government to reduce or remove tariffs on essential goods and services to cushion the impact of inflation on Nigerian workers and ordinary citizens.
The FWF also called for free education for the children of federal workers in all federal educational institutions, the establishment of a functional car loan programme for civil servants and the introduction of a special family support allowance to help workers cope with rising household expenses.
The communiqué criticised what it described as the silence and inaction of the country’s two major labour centres – the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) – over the worsening hardship, insecurity and alleged repression of citizens.
“We are alarmed by the passivity of the NLC and TUC regarding these issues. Ordinarily, we would expect our two labour centres to have called for a national strike and protests by now,” the forum stated.
Consequently, the FWF called on both labour centres to immediately declare a two-day nationwide strike and mass protest against insecurity, economic hardship and what it described as the deteriorating welfare of Nigerian workers.
The forum maintained that Nigeria was facing a period of profound national distress characterised by insecurity, hunger, rising living costs and weakening public institutions.
“As federal workers, we are facing double tragedy and punishment under this dispensation—our salaries are abysmally low, and our lives are insecure,” the communiqué said.
The forum added that its planned protest was intended to draw national attention to the plight of workers and ordinary Nigerians while pressing government to embrace responsible governance, fulfil its obligations to workers and take urgent steps to restore security and economic stability.
