WORKERS DEMAND N300,000 MINIMUM WAGE

Federal workers have asked the Federal Government to increase the national minimum wage from ₦70,000 to ₦300,000, citing the rising cost of living and growing financial pressure on employees.

The demand was contained in a letter by the Federal Workers Forum to President Bola Tinubu and the National Assembly.

The workers argued that the ₦70,000 minimum wage approved in 2024 was no longer enough to meet the cost of basic needs such as food, transportation, accommodation, electricity and cooking gas. They also claimed that the full consequential adjustment arising from the 2024 wage review had not been implemented.

The forum proposed a salary structure that would place the entry-level wage at ₦300,000, with salaries increasing progressively across the federal civil service.

It also called for the payment of outstanding salaries, promotion arrears and other entitlements owed to workers.

Other demands include the payment of arrears of the 40 per cent peculiar allowance, full implementation of the 2024 wage adjustment and the introduction of a permanent Cost of Living Allowance.

The workers said the current economic situation was affecting their ability to meet basic household expenses and could also have an impact on productivity.

The demand comes amid renewed calls for a review of workers’ wages as the cost of living continues to put pressure on households across Nigeria.