The Federal Workers Forum (FWF) has asked President Bola Tinubu and the National Assembly to urgently review the salaries of federal civil servants and increase the national minimum wage from N70,000 to N300,000.
The demand was contained in a letter dated September 2, 2026, signed by the forum’s National Coordinator, Andrew Emelieze, and General Secretary, Ogundele Ayodele.
The letter, addressed to the Senate President and Speaker of the House of Representatives through the Clerk of the National Assembly, also listed President Tinubu, the Chief Justice of Nigeria and the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation among its recipients.
The workers also proposed a new salary structure that would place the pay of Level 17 Step 1 officers at N1.5m, saying the existing wage structure had become inadequate amid the rising cost of living.
The forum said the N70,000 minimum wage introduced in 2024 had not been fully implemented for federal workers, particularly the consequential adjustments and related allowances.
According to the group, the 2024 wage review increased the minimum wage from N30,000 to N70,000 but effectively resulted in a N40,000 increase across the federal civil service.
The FWF argued that workers should not be required to wait until the next statutory wage review before their salaries are adjusted, given the continued rise in the cost of food, transportation, accommodation, electricity, cooking gas and other basic necessities.
It said the current economic situation had pushed many federal workers into severe financial hardship and indebtedness, with some allegedly relying on microfinance institutions and digital loan platforms to meet basic expenses.
The forum further warned that prolonged financial hardship could undermine workers’ productivity and create conditions that could encourage corruption.
Under its proposed salary structure, the FWF wants Level 1 workers to earn N300,000, with salaries rising progressively to N1.5m for Level 17 officers.
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It also called for the payment of outstanding salaries, promotion arrears and other entitlements, as well as the implementation and payment of arrears of the 40 per cent peculiar allowance.
Other demands include a permanent Cost of Living Allowance, Family Support Allowance, an end to stagnation in the civil service, declaration of vacancies for promotions and comprehensive health insurance for federal workers and pensioners.
The workers also sought car and housing loan schemes, improved pension arrangements, long-service awards, free education for children of federal workers and pensioners in federal institutions, and tax relief on workers’ allowances.
Beyond salaries, the forum urged the government to introduce broader social protection measures for unemployed and underemployed Nigerians, improve access to healthcare and strengthen efforts to tackle insecurity.
It also called for an investigation into reports that part of workers’ contributory pension savings was being borrowed by the executive, demanding a refund if the allegation is established.
The FWF further advocated the return of petrol subsidy, price controls for essential goods and services, increased local production and measures to improve the purchasing power of Nigerians.
The forum urged the National Assembly to take up its demands with President Tinubu, insisting that federal workers could not afford to wait until July 2027 for a salary review.
It described the proposed wage adjustment as an emergency intervention necessary to improve workers’ welfare and enable them to effectively implement government policies.
