WORKERS DEMAND N300,000 MINIMUM WAGE, N1.5M SALARY FOR LEVEL 17

The Federal Workers Forum has asked President Bola Tinubu and the National Assembly to urgently review the salaries of federal civil servants and increase the national minimum wage from N70,000 to N300,000.

In a letter dated September 2, 2026, the forum also proposed a maximum salary of N1.5m for Level 17 officers, arguing that the current wage structure no longer reflects the economic realities facing federal workers.

The workers said the N70,000 minimum wage approved in 2024 had not been fully implemented, claiming that federal employees had only received a flat N40,000 increase across all levels without the full consequential adjustment and related allowances.

The forum cited rising costs of food, transportation, accommodation, electricity, cooking gas and other basic necessities as reasons for the proposed wage review. It warned that many workers were struggling with debts and that the situation was affecting their welfare and productivity.

Under the proposed salary structure, Level 1 Step 1 workers would earn N300,000, with salaries rising progressively to N1.5m for Level 17 Step 1 officers.

The FWF also demanded payment of outstanding salaries, promotion arrears and other entitlements, as well as the immediate implementation of the 40 per cent peculiar allowance and full consequential adjustment of the 2024 minimum wage.

Other demands include a permanent Cost of Living Allowance, Family Support Allowance, improved health insurance, housing and car loan schemes, better pension arrangements and an end to stagnation in the civil service.

The forum also called for stronger social security measures, improved security, price controls on essential goods, increased local production and the return of petrol subsidy.

It further urged the National Assembly to investigate allegations that part of workers’ contributory pension savings was being borrowed by the executive.

The workers appealed to lawmakers to treat their demands as an emergency, insisting that federal employees should not have to wait until July 2027 for a review of their salaries.