Government employees turn down offer of N100,000 as lowest monthly pay.

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The Federal Workers Forum (FWF) has rejected the proposed N100,000 national minimum wage, describing it as inadequate and incapable of addressing prevailing economic realities facing Nigerian workers.

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This is contained in a communiqué issued on Sunday at the end of a meeting and opinion poll held on Saturday to deliberate on hardship and insecurity across the country.

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The communiqué was jointly signed by Mr Andrew Emelieze, National Coordinator of FWF; Mr Ayo Ogundele, National Secretary; and Mr Aminu Yerima, National Mobilisation Officer of the forum.

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The forum said federal workers were grappling with worsening living conditions, low wages, unpaid arrears and rising insecurity, despite repeated government assurances on workers’ welfare.

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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.

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It alleged that only N40,000 was added uniformly to salaries across grade levels and that deductions further reduced the actual benefits received by workers.

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The forum also expressed concern over the non-implementation of the 40 per cent peculiar allowance and outstanding wage award arrears promised by government officials.

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“Federal workers nationwide are living daily in fear and uncertainty. We are constantly confronted with the challenges of survival and safety,” they said.

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“Workers have continued to face severe economic hardship arising from inflation, high living costs, fuel subsidy removal and declining value of the naira.

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“Many federal workers are still being owed promotion arrears, wage awards, duty tour allowances and other entitlements accumulated over several years,” the forum said.

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On the proposed N100,000 minimum wage reportedly canvassed by governors, the forum said the offer fell far below what could be regarded as a living wage.

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“To us, this is the height of hypocrisy. These same governors, most of whom said they could not afford the N70,000 minimum wage, are now proposing N100,000,” it said.

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The forum described the proposal as a “Greek gift” and urged authorities to follow due process in negotiating a wage that reflects current economic realities.

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“The N100,000 proposal is not a living wage. We condemn and reject this proposal in all its forms and entirety,” the forum stated.

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The forum also decried the worsening security situation, saying workers and ordinary citizens were increasingly exposed to kidnappings, killings and other violent crimes.

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It noted that schools had become major targets of criminal attacks, while many victims, including children, remained in captivity across different parts of the country.

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“The fear is real, as many federal workers and indeed many more Nigerians are daily falling victims of the system’s failure to guarantee safety,” it stated.

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The forum called on government to take urgent measures to address insecurity, secure the release of kidnapped persons and halt the killings recorded nationwide.

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The forum further urged the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) to declare an indefinite nationwide strike over hardship and insecurity.

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“The poll’s position is to mandate the NLC/TUC to immediately call out workers to proceed on an indefinite strike action,” they stated.

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They also expressed support for proposed nationwide protests and rallies beginning June 1, pending improvements in security and living conditions.

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The forum called on the federal government to settle all outstanding arrears owed workers and introduce a Cost of Living Allowance (COLA) to cushion economic hardship.

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The forum also advocated the convocation of a sovereign national conference to address constitutional and governance issues it identified as contributing to national challenges.

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The workers’ body further gave President Bola Tinubu a 30-day ultimatum to tackle insecurity, kidnappings, killings and economic hardship facing Nigerians.

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“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,” it said.

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The forum said that government must fulfil its constitutional responsibility of ensuring security and welfare, warning that continued inaction could deepen public dissatisfaction. (NAN)

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