The Federal Workers Forum has appealed to the Federal Government and the National Assembly to urgently address what it describes as growing financial pressure on civil servants, calling for a review of the current wage structure and an increase in the minimum wage benchmark from N70,000 to N300,000.
In a letter dated September 2, 2026, addressed to President Bola Tinubu, the Senate President, the Speaker of the House of Representatives and other senior government officials, the forum argued that many federal workers are struggling to cope with rising expenses, including food, transportation, housing, electricity and other essential needs.
The group, led by its National Coordinator, Andrew Emelieze, and General Secretary, Ogundele Ayodele, said the challenge is linked to what it described as gaps in the implementation of the 2024 minimum wage adjustment. According to the forum, although the national minimum wage was increased from N30,000 to N70,000, workers have not received what it considers full consequential adjustments and related allowances.
The forum proposed a new salary structure ranging from N300,000 for entry-level federal workers to N1.5 million for Level 17 officers. It also requested the payment of outstanding entitlements, implementation of allowances, improved welfare packages, housing and vehicle loan schemes, stronger healthcare support and measures to address stagnation in the civil service.
Beyond salaries, the workers warned that declining purchasing power could affect productivity and deepen economic hardship among government employees. They alleged that some workers have resorted to borrowing from microfinance institutions and digital lending platforms to meet basic needs, while others struggle to afford essential household expenses.
The latest demand comes amid ongoing national conversations about the impact of inflation and the cost-of-living crisis on Nigerian households. The forum urged lawmakers to intervene rather than wait for the next statutory review period of the minimum wage, arguing that current economic realities require immediate action.
The Federal Workers Forum also called for broader social protection measures, including support for vulnerable Nigerians, improved healthcare access, stronger security measures and policies that encourage local production. The group appealed to the government to consider its proposals as part of efforts to improve workers’ welfare and strengthen public service delivery.
