Federal Workers Demand N300,000 Minimum Wage, N1.5m Salary for Top Officers
Federal workers under the Federal Workers Forum have demanded an increase in the minimum wage from N70,000 to N300,000, citing the rising cost of living across the country.
The demand was contained in a letter dated September 2, 2026, addressed to President Bola Tinubu and the National Assembly. The letter was signed by the National Coordinator of the forum, Andrew Emelieze, and the General Secretary, Ogundele Ayodele.
The workers also proposed a new salary structure that would place the maximum monthly salary for Level 17 officers at N1.5 million.
According to the forum, the N70,000 minimum wage approved in 2024 has not been fully implemented for federal civil servants, particularly with regard to consequential adjustments and some allowances.
The workers said the increase from the previous N30,000 minimum wage to N70,000 had failed to adequately address the economic challenges confronting civil servants.
They argued that the prices of food, transportation, accommodation, electricity, cooking gas and other essential commodities had increased significantly, reducing the purchasing power of workers.
Under the proposed salary structure, the forum wants Level 1 Step 1 workers to earn N300,000 monthly, with salaries increasing progressively across the various levels of the federal civil service.
The proposed structure would place Level 8 workers at N510,000, Level 10 at N600,000, Level 12 at N700,000, Level 14 at N800,000 and Level 15 at N1 million. Level 16 and Level 17 officers would earn N1.2 million and N1.5 million respectively.
The Federal Workers Forum also called for the payment of outstanding salaries, promotion arrears and other entitlements owed to federal employees.
The workers demanded the payment of arrears relating to the 40 per cent peculiar allowance and the full implementation of consequential adjustments arising from the 2024 minimum wage.
They further called for the introduction of a permanent Cost of Living Allowance and Family Support Allowance to cushion the effect of rising living expenses on workers.
Other demands included improved promotion opportunities, comprehensive health insurance for workers and pensioners, car and housing loan schemes, improved pension arrangements and long-service awards.
The forum also advocated free education for the children of federal workers and pensioners in federal institutions, as well as tax relief measures for workers.
The workers expressed concern that the current economic situation was forcing some civil servants to depend on loans to meet their basic needs.
They urged the Federal Government and the National Assembly to urgently consider their demands, warning that continued financial hardship could affect workers’ welfare and productivity.
The forum also appealed for stronger social security programmes for unemployed and underemployed Nigerians, improved healthcare and intensified efforts to address insecurity.
The workers urged the government not to wait until the next statutory wage review before addressing their concerns, insisting that an immediate salary adjustment was necessary to reflect current economic realities.
