Federal-Workers Forum Urges President Tinubu To Settle Wage-Arrears (Details)

Federal-Workers Forum Urges President Tinubu To Settle Wage-Arrears (Details)

Workers under the Federal Workers Forum (FWF) have called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to promptly pay the three-month wage award and other arrears owed to federal employees. This appeal was made during an online meeting of the forum on Saturday, as stated in a communiqué released to Ireporteronline on Sunday.

The communiqué, signed by FWF National Coordinator Comrade Andrew Emelieze, expressed the workers’ frustration with the Nigerian government’s lack of attention to their plight. Emelieze highlighted the soaring cost of goods and services, which have risen by over 300%, and the severe devaluation of the national currency, making it increasingly difficult for federal workers to sustain themselves.

Emelieze criticized the government’s discontinuation of the N35,000 wage award since February, describing it as a significant hardship for workers. He urged President Tinubu to ensure the payment of the three-month wage award and settle all other outstanding arrears. Emelieze went further, suggesting that any leader unable to provide a living wage should resign.

Key points from the communiqué include:

The government’s apparent disregard for workers’ welfare.
The dramatic increase in the cost of living and currency devaluation.
The government’s cessation of the N35,000 wage award payments since February.
The need for immediate payment of the three-month wage award and other arrears.

Emelieze stated, “The Nigerian government is not taking workers seriously; it appears the government is heartless and wicked. It is playing games with the new national minimum wage, showing mindlessness and insensitivity.”

He emphasized the dire situation faced by federal workers, who are struggling to feed and survive. Emelieze condemned the government’s failure to pay the wage award and other allowances, insisting on urgent action to alleviate workers’ hardships.

The communiqué also addressed the broader financial issues, stating, “The federal government is not permitted to borrow any amount from our contributory pension fund. We support the indefinite national strike action called by labor and urge federal workers to ensure full compliance and a complete shutdown of all federal government secretariats nationwide.”

Finally, the FWF called for solidarity from the Nigerian people, proposing that if the government remains unresponsive five working days into the indefinite strike, labor should lead workers to occupy the Three Arms Zone and state government houses across the nation.