Workers are demanding upward review of their salary to a minimum of ₦300,000 from the current ₦70,000, saying the current salary structure no longer reflects the economic conditions facing workers and their families
The demand was contained in a fresh letter dated September 2, 2026, by the Federal Workers Forum, FWF.
“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 letter was signed by the National Coordinator of the forum, Andrew Emelieze, and its General Secretary, Ogundele Ayodele. It was addressed to the Senate President and Speaker of the House of Representatives through the Clerk of the National Assembly.
President Tinubu, the Chief Justice of Nigeria and the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation were also listed among the recipients.
The workers are seeking a complete review of the federal salary structure.
Under their proposal, the lowest-paid federal workers would receive N300,000 monthly, while officers on Grade Level 17 would earn up to N1.5 million.
Backing the demand, the forum said, “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 group said the call was not only about increasing salaries but also about resolving what it described as outstanding issues surrounding the implementation of the 2024 minimum wage.
According to the workers, the N70,000 minimum wage approved in 2024 has not translated into the full salary adjustments and allowances they expected across the federal civil service.
“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 N70,000 minimum wage was agreed by the Federal Government and organised labour in July 2024 after months of negotiations. President Tinubu later signed the amended minimum wage law into effect, replacing the previous N30,000 benchmark. The new law also shortened the review period from five years to three years.
The Federal Workers Forum, however, argued that the review timeline should not stop government from responding to the present economic difficulties.
It claimed that workers across different salary levels effectively received an additional N40,000 when the new minimum wage structure was implemented.
The forum said, “Only N40,000 was added to the salaries of every federal worker across all levels.”
The Workers cite rising cost of living The forum listed food, transportation, accommodation, electricity, cooking gas, water, communication and other daily needs among the expenses putting pressure on workers.
It said the N70,000 wage was no longer sufficient to meet basic family obligations, particularly for workers supporting children and other dependants.
The group stated, “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 further described the situation facing federal workers as increasingly difficult.
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