Federal Workers Forum Demands ₦300,000 Minimum Wage, ₦1.5m Salary for Level 17 Officers
The Federal Workers Forum (FWF) has called on the Federal Government and the National Assembly to urgently review the salaries of federal workers, demanding a minimum wage of ₦300,000 and a salary ceiling of ₦1.5 million for Level 17 officers.
In a press statement dated September 2, 2026, and signed by its National Coordinator, Comrade Andrew Emelieze, and General Secretary, Comrade Ogundele Ayodele, the group said the current ₦70,000 minimum wage was no longer sufficient to meet the basic needs of workers amid the rising cost of living.
The statement, addressed to the Senate President, Speaker of the House of Representatives, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Chief Justice of Nigeria and the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, urged the National Assembly to intervene urgently in what the group described as an “emergency” situation facing federal workers.
According to the FWF, the implementation of the ₦70,000 national minimum wage has not adequately reflected in the salaries and allowances of federal workers through the expected consequential adjustments. The group also called for the immediate implementation and payment of outstanding components of the 40 per cent peculiar allowance, promotion arrears and other salary-related entitlements.
The workers’ forum argued that the economic conditions that prevailed when the new minimum wage was introduced had deteriorated significantly, making it dangerous, in its view, to wait until July 2027 for another statutory minimum-wage review.
FWF: ₦70,000 No Longer Sustainable
The FWF said federal workers were facing severe financial pressure as the prices of food, transportation, accommodation, energy and other essential services continued to rise.
It maintained that workers were increasingly relying on loans and other forms of credit to meet basic household expenses and, in some cases, to finance transportation to their workplaces.
The group therefore proposed an immediate wage structure beginning with ₦300,000 for Level 1 Step 1, rising progressively to ₦1.5 million for Level 17 Step 1.
Under its proposed structure, Level 2 would receive ₦330,000, Level 3 ₦360,000, Level 4 ₦390,000, Level 5 ₦420,000, Level 6 ₦450,000, Level 7 ₦480,000, Level 8 ₦510,000, Level 9 ₦550,000, Level 10 ₦600,000, Level 12 ₦700,000, Level 13 ₦750,000, Level 14 ₦800,000, Level 15 ₦1 million, Level 16 ₦1.2 million and Level 17 ₦1.5 million.
The proposed wage structure did not list a figure for Level 11.
Group Seeks Permanent Cost-of-Living Allowance
Beyond an immediate wage review, the FWF demanded the introduction of a permanent Cost of Living Allowance (COLA) that would be adjusted in line with prevailing economic conditions.
It also proposed a Family Support Allowance (FASA) for federal workers, arguing that rising household costs had placed additional pressure on employees.
Other demands include the payment of all outstanding salaries, promotion arrears and other entitlements; harmonisation of salaries and pensions in the federal public service; improved health insurance coverage; car and housing loan schemes; long-service awards; and measures to address what it described as stagnation in the public service.
The forum specifically called for an end to the stagnation of workers and the declaration of vacancies for promotion, alleging that some workers, particularly in the Federal Ministry of Education, had suffered prolonged career stagnation.
Calls for Wider Social and Economic Reforms
The FWF's demands extended beyond the salaries of federal workers. The group called for improved pensions, settlement of outstanding pension arrears and the development of a comprehensive national social security programme for unemployed and underemployed Nigerians.
It also called for free education in federal institutions for the children of federal workers and pensioners, while advocating a long-term national policy of free education.
On healthcare, the group demanded free medical treatment for children, pregnant women and elderly citizens in government hospitals, as well as federal intervention in the treatment of cancer and other life-threatening diseases.
The forum further demanded the decongestion of correctional facilities, justice for prisoners, consideration of amnesty measures and the abolition of capital punishment.
FWF Calls for Action on Cost of Living and Insecurity
On the wider economy, the group called for measures to reduce the cost of living, including the return of petrol subsidy, price-control mechanisms for essential goods and services, deliberate measures to strengthen the naira, and increased government participation in the mass production of basic commodities.
It also urged the Federal Government to halt what it described as the rapid increase in the prices of essential goods, including cement, while promoting industrialisation and employment creation.
The forum appealed for urgent action against insecurity and called for the release of kidnapped Nigerians and an end to the country's security crisis.
It additionally urged the government to develop productive opportunities for young people as an alternative to internet fraud, popularly known as “Yahoo Yahoo.”
FWF Seeks Probe of Alleged Borrowing of Pension Funds
The workers' forum also asked the National Assembly to investigate reports that part of workers' contributory pension savings may have been borrowed by the Executive.
The group said that if the allegation was established to be true, the practice should be stopped immediately and the funds refunded.
“Federal Workers Cannot Wait Until 2027”
The FWF said its demands were motivated by what it described as the deteriorating living conditions of workers and argued that waiting until the next statutory minimum-wage review would further worsen the situation.
“We cannot wait till July 2027 for a new national minimum wage,” the group declared, insisting that an immediate review was necessary to reflect current economic realities.
The forum urged President Tinubu, the National Assembly and relevant government authorities to treat the matter as an emergency and take steps toward what it described as a “just and fair wage” for federal workers.
The statement concluded with the forum's call for solidarity and a commitment to continue advocating for improved wages, better working conditions and broader social protection for Nigerian workers and citizens.
“We shall overcome,” the statement declared.
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