The Federal Workers Forum (FWF) has demanded an immediate upward review of the salaries of federal civil servants, proposing N300,000 as the new minimum wage and N1.5 million as the maximum salary for Level 17 officers.

The demand was contained in a letter dated September 2, 2026, addressed to President Bola Tinubu and the National Assembly over what the workers described as the worsening economic hardship confronting federal employees.

The letter, signed by the FWF National Coordinator, Andrew Emelieze, and General Secretary, Ogundele Ayodele, was addressed to the Senate President and Speaker of the House of Representatives through the Clerk of the National Assembly.

The Chief Justice of Nigeria and Head of the Civil Service of the Federation were also listed among the recipients.

The forum argued that the existing wage structure had become grossly inadequate amid rising costs of food, transportation, accommodation, electricity, cooking gas and other basic necessities.

“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 workers stated.

The FWF also accused the Federal Government of failing to fully implement the N70,000 minimum wage approved in 2024, particularly the consequential adjustment and associated allowances.

The workers said the 2024 wage review, which increased the national minimum wage from N30,000 to N70,000, had effectively resulted in only N40,000 being added to the salaries of federal workers across the various levels.

“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,” the forum said.

According to the workers, the statutory three-year period before the next review of the national minimum wage should not prevent the government from taking urgent action in response to the current cost-of-living crisis.

They argued that waiting until July 2027 for another statutory review would amount to prolonging the hardship being experienced by federal employees.

“As a matter of fact, it is suicidal for the federal workers to continue in this ugly situation,” the FWF said, insisting that wages must be reviewed in line with prevailing economic realities.

The forum painted a grim picture of the financial situation of federal workers, claiming that many employees were struggling to meet basic household expenses on their current salaries.

“Federal workers have been enduring the situation, and everything has been frustrating and nauseating. We cannot cope again. Federal workers are dying in instalments; we are suffering in silence; our salary is too poor; it is not taking us home,” it stated.

The group further alleged that some workers had resorted to borrowing from microfinance institutions and digital loan platforms to finance basic needs, including transportation to work.

“Federal workers are now heavily indebted to microfinances and, most times, federal workers resort to phone loan apps to get transportation to work,” it claimed.

The FWF also alleged that some workers had resorted to using firewood because they could no longer afford cooking gas.

According to the forum, the worsening financial pressure could negatively affect workers’ productivity and potentially create conditions that encourage corruption.

“While the Federal Government is making more money now, the federal workers are underpaid and subjected to unprecedented sufferings and hardship,” the workers said.

Under the proposed salary structure, Level 1 Step 1 workers would earn N300,000 monthly, with salaries increasing progressively across the civil service structure.

The forum proposed N330,000 for Level 2, N360,000 for Level 3, N390,000 for Level 4, N420,000 for Level 5, N450,000 for Level 6 and N480,000 for Level 7.

Level 8 workers would earn N510,000, while Level 9 would receive N550,000 and Level 10, N600,000.

The proposed salary for Level 12 is N700,000, while Level 13 would earn N750,000 and Level 14, N800,000.

The structure further proposes N1 million for Level 15, N1.2 million for Level 16 and N1.5 million for Level 17 Step 1 officers.

The FWF said the N300,000 minimum wage proposal was based on its assessment of workers’ monthly expenditure on feeding, transportation, accommodation, family support, electricity, cooking gas, telecommunications, water and other utilities.

“Our projections here are fair, and we believe it can still be accommodated in the present budget based on the daily increased earnings and the excess crude oil sales earnings,” it said.

Beyond the proposed wage increase, the forum demanded payment of outstanding salaries, promotion arrears and other entitlements owed federal workers.

It also called for immediate implementation and payment of arrears of the 40 per cent peculiar allowance, full consequential adjustment arising from the 2024 minimum wage and introduction of a permanent Cost of Living Allowance.

Other demands include a Family Support Allowance, an end to stagnation in the civil service, declaration of vacancies to facilitate promotions, comprehensive health insurance for federal workers and pensioners, car and housing loan schemes, long-service awards and improved pension arrangements.

The workers also demanded free education for children of federal workers and pensioners in federal institutions, alongside reduced taxation on workers’ allowances and other tax relief measures.

The FWF extended its demands beyond the civil service, urging the government to establish comprehensive social security programmes for unemployed and underemployed Nigerians.

It also sought free medical care for children, pregnant women and elderly citizens, as well as federal intervention programmes for cancer and other life-threatening diseases.

On security, the group called for stronger measures to protect Nigerians and secure the release of kidnapped citizens.

The forum also asked the National Assembly to investigate reports that part of 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 workers further demanded the return of petrol subsidy, price-control measures for essential goods and services, increased local production and industrialisation, and measures to reverse the decline in Nigerians’ purchasing power.

The FWF urged the National Assembly to take up its demands with President Tinubu and treat the matter as an emergency, warning that federal workers could not continue to wait until 2027 before their salaries were reviewed.

“Federal workers have suffered enough. It has been three years of torture, torment and agony for the federal workers since the removal of fuel subsidy,” the forum said.

It appealed to the lawmakers and other government officials to act on the demands, arguing that improved wages were essential to protecting workers’ welfare and ensuring effective implementation of government policies.

“It is our prayers that the National Assembly, being the representative of the people, take up our plea with the utmost responsibility and act accordingly to ensure a just society,” the group said.