The Federal Workers Forum has rejected the proposed N100,000 national minimum wage, describing it as inadequate and incapable of addressing the current economic realities facing Nigerian workers.
This was contained in a communiqué issued at the end of a meeting and opinion poll held on Saturday to deliberate on hardship, wage concerns and insecurity across the country.
The communiqué was jointly signed by the forum’s National Coordinator, Mr Andrew Emelieze; National Secretary, Mr Ayo Ogundele; and National Mobilisation Officer, Mr Aminu Yerima.
The forum said federal workers are facing worsening living conditions, low wages, unpaid arrears and rising insecurity, despite repeated assurances by the government 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.
The forum alleged that only N40,000 was added uniformly to salaries across grade levels, while deductions further reduced the actual benefits received by workers.
“Federal workers nationwide are living daily in fear and uncertainty. We are constantly confronted with the challenges of survival and safety,” the forum 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,” it added.
“The N100,000 proposal is not a living wage. We condemn and reject this proposal in all its forms and entirety.”
The forum also described the proposal as a “Greek gift” and urged the authorities to follow due process in negotiating a wage structure that reflects current economic conditions.
The reaction follows recent reports that state governors are considering a new national minimum wage of N100,000 amid rising economic hardship in the country.
The proposal was attributed to a Facebook post by the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum and Governor of Kwara State, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq.
AbdulRazaq said the proposal was driven by inflation, rising living costs and growing financial pressure on Nigerian workers.
He noted that state governments were engaging the Federal Government and organised labour on a wage structure that balances workers’ welfare with fiscal sustainability.
The governors also said any new wage regime must not place excessive financial strain on states.
However, the Federal Workers Forum said the proposal does not go far enough, especially as some governors had previously complained about their ability to implement the N70,000 minimum wage.
The forum also raised concerns over worsening insecurity, saying workers and ordinary citizens are increasingly exposed to kidnappings, killings and other violent crimes. It said schools have become major targets of criminal attacks, while many victims, including children, remain in captivity across different parts of the country.
They called on the government to take urgent steps to address insecurity, secure the release of kidnapped persons and stop killings nationwide, urging the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress to declare an indefinite nationwide strike over hardship and insecurity.
The forum also expressed support for proposed nationwide protests and rallies beginning June 1, pending improvements in security and living conditions.
The workers’ body further called on the Federal Government to settle all outstanding arrears owed to workers and introduce a Cost of Living Allowance to cushion the effect of economic hardship.
It gave President Bola Tinubu a 30-day ultimatum to address 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,” the forum said.
The Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise had also urged the Tinubu administration to shift the next phase of reforms toward jobs, poverty reduction, productivity and improved living standards, noting that macroeconomic reforms have yet to translate into broad-based welfare gains for citizens.
In a policy brief assessing the administration’s performance from May 2023 to May 2026, CPPE said Tinubu’s first three years in office were defined by bold reforms that helped stabilise Nigeria’s fragile economy, but have yet to translate into meaningful welfare gains for citizens.
