Federal workers have called for an urgent review of the national minimum wage, proposing that the current N70,000 benchmark be increased to N300,000 amid rising living costs across Nigeria.
The demand was contained in a letter by the Federal Workers Forum (FWF) to President Bola Tinubu and the National Assembly, where the group also proposed a new salary structure that would place the highest-ranking federal civil servants on a monthly salary of N1.5 million.
The workers argued that the existing wage structure has failed to keep pace with the rising cost of food, transportation, accommodation, electricity, cooking gas and other basic necessities.
According to the forum, federal workers are struggling to meet their daily needs despite the minimum wage being increased from N30,000 to N70,000 in 2024.
The group further alleged that the implementation of the 2024 wage increase had not been fully completed, claiming that workers across different levels received only a N40,000 addition to their salaries.
The FWF said the situation had pushed some workers into debt, with some allegedly relying on microfinance institutions and digital loan platforms to meet basic expenses.
It therefore urged the Federal Government to immediately review workers’ salaries rather than wait until the next statutory wage review.
Under the proposed structure, the forum wants entry-level federal workers to earn N300,000, while salaries would rise progressively across the various levels, reaching N1.5 million for Level 17 officers.
Beyond the minimum wage, the workers demanded payment of outstanding salaries, promotion arrears and allowances, as well as the full implementation of the consequential adjustment linked to the 2024 wage increase.
They also called for a permanent Cost of Living Allowance, improved health insurance, housing and car loans, pension reforms and other welfare measures.
The forum maintained that improving workers’ purchasing power was necessary not only for their welfare but also for productivity and effective delivery of government policies.
The workers appealed to the National Assembly to intervene and take up their demands with the President, stressing that federal employees could not continue to cope with what they described as worsening economic hardship.
The FWF also urged the government to consider broader measures to reduce the cost of living and strengthen social protection for Nigerians.
