The Federal Workers Forum (FWF) has asked President Bola Tinubu and the National Assembly to urgently review federal civil servants’ salaries and raise the minimum wage from N70,000 to N300,000.
The forum made the demand in a letter dated September 2, 2026, signed by National Coordinator Andrew Emelieze and General Secretary Ogundele Ayodele. It also proposed a maximum salary of N1.5 million for Level 17 officers, arguing that the current structure no longer reflects Nigeria’s economic realities.
The workers said, “We call for justice and immediate wage review now, adjust the federal minimum wage to N300,000 and a maximum wage of N1.5m for the Level 17 officers.”
The FWF argued that the 2024 minimum wage has not been fully implemented, claiming that federal workers are still waiting for the complete consequential adjustment and related allowances.
The group stated, “It will surprise you to hear that the Federal Government has not fully implemented the new national minimum wage since July 2024. We have been in the battle for full consequential adjustment of the new minimum wage.”
According to the forum, the 2024 wage review raised the minimum wage from N30,000 to N70,000, but workers across all federal civil service levels received what it described as a flat N40,000 increase.
“Only N40,000 was added to the salaries of every federal worker across all levels,” the forum said.
The workers said rising costs of food, transport, accommodation, electricity and cooking gas had made the current wage inadequate. They also claimed that some workers now rely on microfinance institutions and digital loan platforms to meet daily expenses.
The proposed structure starts at N300,000 for Level 1 Step 1 and rises to N1.5 million for Level 17 Step 1. Other demands include payment of outstanding salaries and promotion arrears, the 40 per cent peculiar allowance, a permanent Cost of Living Allowance, family support, health insurance, housing and car loans, and improved pension arrangements.
The FWF also called for social security support, stronger action against insecurity, measures to reduce living costs, greater local production and an investigation into reports that workers’ contributory pension savings may have been borrowed by the executive.
“We like to bring to the notice of the National Assembly that we are hearing rumours that part of our contributory pension savings is being borrowed by the executive. We are calling for investigations and an immediate stoppage cum refund if it is true,” it stated.
The forum urged lawmakers to treat its demands as an emergency, insisting that federal workers should not have to wait until July 2027 for a salary review.
Do you think a N300,000 minimum wage is achievable within the current federal budget?
