Federal workers give FG 72 hours to pay March, April and May arrears

Federal workers have given President Bola Tinubu-led Federal Government (FG) 72 hours to pay March, April and May 2024 wage arrears.

The workers under the aegis, Workers Forum (FWF) stated this in a communique issued at the end of an online meeting of Federal Workers Nationwide in Nigeria on Tuesday 18th June 2024.

The communique signed by Comrade Andrew Emelieze, National Coordinator (FWF), stressed that if the FG failed to pay the arrears within the stipulated time, the workers would embark on massive protests across the country from 25th June 2024.

“The Federal Government should pay up the arrears of wage award for the months of March, April and May within 72 hours else Federal Government workers nationwide will embark on a continuous mass protest,” the communique read in part.

The workers urged the President to put himself in their shoes, adding that there are many more outstanding arrears of payment owed the federal workers by the Federal Government.

“The federal government and President Tinubu should put themselves in the shoes of the federal workers and stop promoting poverty among workers with poor pay.

“There are many more outstanding arrears of payment owed the federal workers by the federal government, all these must be considered including promotion arrears and the recent 25%/35% pay adjustments for some public sector workers,” the workers said.

They frowned at those calling the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) to accept the proposed ₦62,000 by the FG, saying that federal workers are already earning above that.

“We are also disturbed that some persons and or groups of people are appealing to labour to consider accepting ₦62,000 minimum wage proposal, an amount that cannot sustain a newborn baby for a month not to talk of buying a bag of rice. To us, this is an act of wickedness.

“Federal government workers already earn above the proposed ₦62,000 minimum wage, how come the FG want to systematically reduce the salaries of workers? Current ₦30,000 minimum wage added to the peculiar allowance of Buhari plus ₦35,000 wage award already put the federal workers’ pay above ₦62,000,” part of the communique read.

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The workers further resolved that: “₦62,000 minimum wage proposal is no way near a living wage, hence it is totally rejected by the federal workforce.

“That we have heard from Mr President concerning the new national minimum wage and that the NLC/TUC has nothing to wait for order than to immediately resume the suspended indefinite national strike.

“That on Monday 24th June 2024, if the outstanding three months wage award arrears are not paid, federal workers should commence continuous mass protest in all federal government secretariats across the federation.

‘We the federal workers are ready for another round of indefinite national strike and protest labour should not hesitate to take action if the federal government continues to remain adamant in paying a living wage.

“Federal workers have suffered enough, it is now very difficult for us to cope, we urge the federal government to reason with us.”