Federal civil servants under the aegis of the Federal Workers Forum (FWF) have called on the Federal Government to urgently review the salaries of workers, proposing a new minimum wage of N300,000 and a maximum salary of N1.5 million for Level 17 officers.
The workers made the demand in a letter dated September 2, 2026, addressed to President Bola Tinubu and the National Assembly.
The letter, signed by the National Coordinator of the forum, Andrew Emelieze, and its 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 FWF argued that the current salary structure had become inadequate because of the sharp increase in the cost of living, insisting that federal workers could no longer cope with their existing earnings.
“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 forum said.
The group also faulted the implementation of the N70,000 national minimum wage approved in 2024, claiming that the consequential adjustment and some allowances associated with the wage increase had not been fully implemented for federal workers.
The workers said the minimum wage was increased from N30,000 to N70,000 in 2024, but alleged that the implementation effectively translated into a uniform N40,000 addition to salaries across the federal civil service.
“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 stated.
“Only N40,000 was added to the salaries of every federal worker across all levels.”
Although the 2024 wage framework is expected to be reviewed after three years, the FWF said the statutory timeline should not prevent the government from taking immediate action in response to the worsening economic conditions.
According to the workers, the cost of food, transportation, housing, electricity, cooking gas and other basic necessities had risen beyond the reach of many civil servants.
The forum described the situation as an emergency, warning that continued delays in reviewing workers’ pay could further undermine their welfare and productivity.
“As a matter of fact, it is suicidal for the federal workers to continue in this ugly situation. Hence, based on the current cost-of-living crisis, it can only be a matter of justice that the federal wages be immediately reviewed to meet up with the current economic realities in Nigeria,” it said.
The workers claimed that many federal employees had resorted to borrowing from microfinance institutions and digital lending platforms to survive.
“Federal workers are now heavily indebted to microfinances and, most times, federal workers resort to phone loan apps to get transportation to work,” the forum alleged.
It also claimed that some workers were increasingly turning to firewood as an alternative to cooking gas because of the high cost of household energy.
The FWF warned that the deteriorating financial position of workers could negatively affect productivity and potentially create an environment that encourages corrupt practices.
“While the Federal Government is making more money now, the federal workers are underpaid and subjected to unprecedented sufferings and hardship,” it said.
The forum described federal employees as the “engine room of governance”, arguing that they deserved a fair share of the country’s increased revenue.
“The federal workers are the goose that lays the golden egg, but we are alienated from our labour,” it added.
Proposed salary structure
Under the salary structure submitted by the workers, a Level 1 Step 1 officer would earn N300,000 monthly.
The proposed salaries would rise progressively across the grades, with Level 2 earning N330,000, Level 3 N360,000, Level 4 N390,000, Level 5 N420,000, Level 6 N450,000 and Level 7 N480,000.
The proposal puts the salary for Level 8 at N510,000, Level 9 at N550,000, Level 10 at N600,000, Level 12 at N700,000, Level 13 at N750,000 and Level 14 at N800,000.
Level 15 officers would earn N1 million, Level 16 officers N1.2 million, while Level 17 Step 1 officers would receive N1.5 million.
The FWF said its proposed minimum wage was based on its assessment of the monthly cost of feeding, transportation, accommodation, family support, electricity, cooking gas, telecommunications, water and other basic needs.
“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.
Other demands
Apart from the wage review, the workers demanded the payment of outstanding salaries, promotion arrears and other financial entitlements owed federal employees.
They also called for the immediate implementation and payment of arrears of the 40 per cent peculiar allowance, full consequential adjustment arising from the 2024 minimum wage and the 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 serving workers and pensioners, and improved car and housing loan schemes.
The forum further requested long-service awards and better pension arrangements, as well as free education for children of federal workers and pensioners in federal institutions.
It called for reduced taxation on workers’ allowances and additional tax relief measures to cushion the impact of rising living costs.
Beyond the welfare of civil servants, the group appealed to the government to establish a comprehensive social security system for unemployed and underemployed Nigerians.
It also called for free medical treatment for children, pregnant women and elderly citizens, as well as federal intervention programmes for cancer and other life-threatening illnesses.
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On security, the FWF urged the government to intensify efforts to tackle insecurity and secure the release of Nigerians held by kidnappers.
The group also asked the National Assembly to investigate reports that part of workers’ contributory pension savings was being 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 said.
The workers additionally demanded the restoration of petrol subsidy, price controls on essential goods and services, stronger support for local production and industrialisation, and policies capable of reversing the decline in Nigerians’ purchasing power.
The FWF urged the National Assembly to present its demands to the President, stressing that workers should not be made to wait until July 2027 for another wage review.
“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 treat the demands as an emergency, arguing that better remuneration was necessary to improve workers’ welfare and enable them to effectively implement 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 workers stated.