₦airaland Forum

Nigerian Workers Forum Accuses Tinubu Government Of Incomplete ₦70,000 Minimum Wage Implementation, Demands ₦300,000

The Federal Workers Forum (FWF) has accused the Nigerian government of failing to fully implement the ₦70,000 new national minimum wage approved in July 2024, saying workers across the federal civil service are facing worsening hardship and can no longer cope with the rising cost of living.

The group, in a press release dated Wednesday, September 2, and addressed to the Senate President, Speaker of the House of Representatives, President Bola Tinubu, the Chief Justice of the Federation and the Head of Service of the Federation, demanded an immediate upward review of the federal minimum wage to ₦300,000.

The FWF also proposed a maximum salary of ₦1.5million for Level 17 officers, arguing that the proposed wage structure would better reflect the economic realities facing workers and help harmonise pay across the public service.

According to the workers, the Federal Government has not fully implemented the new minimum wage since July 2024, despite repeated demands for a consequential adjustment to salaries and allowances.


The group said, "It will surprise you to hear that the federal government have not fully implemented the new national minimum wage since July 2024."

It added that workers had been engaged in a prolonged struggle for the "full consequential adjustment of the new minimum wage" but that the process had yet to be completed.

The FWF claimed that "ONLY ₦40,000 WAS ADDED TO THE SALARIES OF EVERY FEDERAL WORKER ACROSS ALL LEVELS," arguing that the same flat increase was applied across Levels 1 to 17.

"The last review of the salary in July 2024 gave us ₦70,000 as the new national minimum wage, with only ₦40,000 added to the previous ₦30,000," the group said.

The workers also raised concerns over the non-payment of the 40 per cent peculiar allowance and other outstanding entitlements.

"The new Minister of Finance equally promised the payment of the balance of the peculiar allowance lattest August 15th but not yet paid as at now," the group alleged.

The FWF said the failure to adjust workers' earnings in line with inflation and the rising cost of essential goods and services had subjected federal workers to unprecedented hardship.

"While the federal government is making more money now, the federal workers are underpaid and subjected to unprecedented sufferings and hardship," it said.

The group argued that increasing government revenues and budgetary allocations should translate into better welfare for workers, whom it described as "the engine room of governance."

It also criticised the impact of the removal of petrol subsidy and the depreciation of the naira on workers' purchasing power.

"Despite 500% increments in the price of petrol and the deliberate devaluation of the naira, only ₦40,000 was added to the salaries of each federal worker," the FWF said.

The workers warned that the current situation could undermine efficiency in the public service and potentially encourage corruption.

"This current situation will not promote efficiency rather it will promote corruption and it is not the best for our collective interest," the group said.

The FWF said workers were already struggling to feed their families, pay for transportation and meet other basic needs.

"Federal workers are dying in installments, we are suffering in silence, our salary is too poor, it is not taking us home," it said.

It further claimed that some workers had resorted to borrowing from microfinance institutions and phone loan applications to meet transportation costs, while some could no longer afford cooking gas.

"Federal workers are now heavily indebted to micro finances and in most times, federal workers result to phone loan apps inoder to get transportation to work," the statement said.

The group rejected the idea of waiting until July 2027 for another national minimum wage review, describing the situation as an emergency requiring immediate intervention.

"We cannot wait till July 2027 for a new national minimum wage," it said.

The FWF proposed a ₦300,000 minimum wage based on its calculation of workers' monthly expenses, including feeding, transportation, accommodation, family feeding, family support, electricity bills, cooking gas, phone/data, water and other utilities.

Under its proposed salary structure, Level 1 Step 1 workers would earn ₦300,000, while Level 2 would receive ₦330,000 and Level 3 ₦360,000. The proposal rises progressively to ₦1 million for Level 15, ₦1.2 million for Level 16 and ₦1.5 million for Level 17 officers.

The group also called for the payment of outstanding salaries and promotion arrears, immediate implementation of the 40 per cent peculiar allowance, full consequential adjustment of the minimum wage and payment of arrears dating back to July 2024.

Other demands included a permanent Cost of Living Allowance, Family Support Allowance, improved health insurance, car and housing loans, harmonisation of salaries and pensions, and an end to what it described as heavy taxation of workers' allowances.

The FWF also called for free education for children of federal workers and pensioners in federal institutions, standardisation of pensions, social security payments for unemployed and underemployed Nigerians, and the return of petrol subsidy.

The group urged the National Assembly to urgently intervene, saying federal workers had "suffered enough."

"As a matter of fact, it is suicidal for the federal workers to continue in this ugly situation," the FWF said, urging lawmakers to act on what it described as "a distress call and an emergency situation."

The group also asked the National Assembly to investigate reports that part of workers' contributory pension savings was being borrowed by the executive, calling for an immediate stoppage and refund if the allegation was found to be true.

"We call for investigations and an immediate stoppage cum refund if it is true," it said.

The FWF concluded by urging the National Assembly and the Federal Government to respond to its demands and ensure what it described as "a just and fair wage" for federal workers.

iwaeda:
Minimum wage of N70k is not still being paid, yet taxes, electricity bill, fuel is on astronomical increase.

iwaeda:
Minimum wage of N70k is not still being paid, yet taxes, electricity bill, fuel is on astronomical increase.

sofeo:
Nigerians are not ready for change, when we are ready, we shall take our destiny into our owns hands, but we need to purge our systems and get enlightened first.

nairalanda1:
Yeah on to the topic.

I've said it, the real test is whether government can increase salaries for the workers.

RIght now subsidy removal means government now...can pay salaries with the current benchmark of N70000 minimum wage. Salary increases means either government borrows more to finance it, or taxes more people to pay for it.

It's safe to tell tinubu and APC that you guys should have supported that subsidy removal in 2012, even in 1993, you know...karma.

Had they done so, savings would have increased , and productivity would have increased, and revenue would have increased to make it possible.

Brendaniel:
So what's your solution on the matter now because you didn't offer one ?

nairalanda1:
I've offered my solutions before, but since most of you don't like it, and I have been slandered and mocked on this site, it's no use anyway.

I don't have time for arguments today.

Mrchippychappy:
Baba Hafusa Aregebsola dey learn work compared to Tinubu.

anonimi:
Nigeria: Pensioners Urge Tinubu to Pay Arrears

26 March 2003
This Day (Lagos)


Lagos — Pension teachers in Lagos State under the aegis of Teacher Pensioners of Nigeria (TEPAN) have urged Governor Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to review his stance on paying the harmonised three year old outstanding pension allowance or risk losing their votes.

In a statement signed by the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of TEPAN, Mr. Ayodabo 'Lade, accused Tinubu of failing to pay the arrears to teachers on their correct pension grade since the year 2000, contrary to what was obtainable in other five States of the South-west controlled by the Alliance for Democracy (AD).

https://allafrica.com/stories/200303260385.html

nairalanda1:
Most nigerians do not pay an income tax to government, and income tax has not been astronomically increased, also most electricity bills are massively in theory subsidised. 80% of Nigerians pay electricity bills below N100 per kwh, with some doing below N60 per kwh when the market price is N250 per kwh or higher.

As for fuel, you were paying for subsidesed fuel with debt , and it was that debt that forced it off. And tinubu is still a bad leader tho.

Image123:
Na part of opposition campaign be this? 300k, really?

Dricker:
Why do you all think anything good can come from tinubu,pesin wey dn sell him soul for power and destruction...

Una never really see the best of tinubu make I'm just win next year...

anonimi:
Has Tinubu finished paying the 35k wage award he announced in October 2023 for six months?

If he is not a devilish person why withhold such payment till now, in his hyperinflation economy despite saving billions from subsidy removal? His followers must be equally devilish people, don't you think

iwaeda:
https://saharareporters.com/2026/09/02/nigerian-workers-forum-accuses-tinubu-government-incomplete-n70000-minimum-wage

Image123:
Na so so pay una dey shout without proof. Pay 300k as how? You think it's magic?

FG Promises To Pay Outstanding Wage Award Before Mid-August

August 5, 2026

The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, noted that the government had already begun addressing many of the issues raised by workers even before receiving its formal communication.

The Federal Government has assured public servants that the outstanding wage award will be paid before the middle of August, while promotion arrears are being processed as part of ongoing efforts to fulfil its commitments to workers.

https://www.channelstv.com/2026/08/05/fg-promises-outstanding-wage-award-before-mid-august-moves-to-clear-promotion-arrears/

2,000 Unity College workers get relief as FG resumes salary arrears payment
30 August 2026

The Federal Government has resumed the payment of three years’ outstanding salary arrears owed to teachers and education officers in the Federal Unity Colleges.

Findings by The Guardian revealed that more than 2,000 affected workers began receiving the payments on August 28, 2026, following years of waiting for the government to clear the backlog.

The affected employees were among those recruited into the Federal Government Unity Colleges between 2019 and 2021, whose salaries subsequently accumulated into arrears.

https://guardian.ng/education/2000-unity-college-workers-get-relief-as-fg-resumes-salary-arrears-payment/

nairalanda1:
Most nigerians do not pay an income tax to government, and income tax has not been astronomically increased, also most electricity bills are massively in theory subsidised. 80% of Nigerians pay electricity bills below N100 per kwh, with some doing below N60 per kwh when the market price is N250 per kwh or higher.

As for fuel, you were paying for subsidesed fuel with debt , and it was that debt that forced it off. And tinubu is still a bad leader tho.