Nigerian federal workers demand payment of three-month outstanding wage awards from President Tinubu's government. The Federal Workers Forum announces nationwide protests starting June 24th, citing economic hardships post-fuel subsidy removal.
Federal workers in Nigeria, represented by the Federal Workers Forum (FWF), have issued a stern demand to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's government for the payment of their outstanding three-month wage awards. This call comes in the wake of economic hardships following the removal of fuel subsidies.
In an online meeting held on Saturday, the workers expressed their frustration over the government's failure to honor the wage award introduced to cushion the impact of increased fuel prices. The unpaid awards span March, April, and May, leaving many workers struggling to cope with rising living costs.
The FWF, through its National Coordinator Comrade Andrew Emelieze, released a communiqué emphasizing that federal workers are "citizens, not slaves." They announced plans for continuous peaceful protests across federal government secretariats nationwide, starting from June 24th, until their demands are met.
The workers' grievances extend beyond the wage award, encompassing issues such as the new national minimum wage and delays in pension and gratuity payments for retired federal workers. They called for solidarity from industrial unions, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) in their struggle.
This development poses a significant challenge for President Tinubu's administration, which must balance fiscal constraints with the urgent needs of its workforce. As the planned protests loom, all eyes will be on the government's response and its potential impact on Nigeria's already fragile economic landscape.
