…NGF pushes for N100,000 minimum wage
…They deserve N1m — NLC
By Teddy Nwanunobi and Onu Okorie
The Federal Workers Forum (FWF) has issued a serious threat to the Nigerian government, warning of an indefinite nationwide strike by its members over unresolved wage disputes and deteriorating security conditions, a move that analysts say could affect the public service delivery and rattle an already fragile economy.
In a communiqué released on Sunday, following an online meeting, the forum said an internal poll of its members returned overwhelming support for immediate strike action, citing what it described as a pattern of broken government promises, unpaid entitlements, and a worsening security crisis that has left civil servants living in daily fear.
This was even as the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) has proposed an upward review of the national minimum wage to N100,000 to President Bola Tinubu to support.
Daily NewsCraft reports that the current minimum wage is N70,000 per month, which was signed into law by Tinubu in July 2024. However, because the law only serves as a baseline, several states have implemented higher minimum wages to accommodate local living costs and labor agreements.
But the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has described the proposed N100,000 national minimum wage being considered by state governors as unrealistic, arguing that Nigerian workers should earn as much as N1 million monthly, given prevailing economic conditions.
In a most sweeping demand, the FWF has called for the convocation of a sovereign national conference to discuss the state of the nation, a long-standing demand of civil society groups that signals the forum’s view that the crisis extends well beyond wage disputes to a fundamental breakdown in the social contract between the Nigerian state and its citizens.
At the heart of the dispute is a growing list of financial commitments the federal government has either delayed or quietly abandoned.
The FWF described the July 2024 minimum wage adjustment as a “hoax,” saying only a flat N40,000 was added across all grade levels, an amount subsequently reduced further by taxation. The forum says workers have still not received two months of wage award arrears owed since that adjustment took effect.
More damaging to the government’s credibility is the controversy surrounding a promised 40 per cent peculiar allowance. The Head of Service of the Federation, Mrs Didi Walson-Jack, had publicly announced the allowance would take effect from May 1, 2026. That promise, the forum alleges, was subsequently walked back by the Office of the Accountant General, leaving workers waiting on an assurance that effectively evaporated.
”May 2026 salaries have been paid, but no wage award was given as promised by the Minister of Finance, and consequential adjustments remain outstanding,” the communiqué stated. “Federal workers are already getting used to forfeiting their promotion arrears, and as a matter of fact, some salaries and numerous arrears have entered ‘voice mail.'”
Outstanding duty tour allowances were also flagged among unpaid entitlements, painting a picture of an employer systematically failing its workforce.
A sustained strike by federal workers would have far-reaching economic consequences. Nigeria’s civil service underpins the administration of revenue collection, customs and border operations, public health systems, education, and regulatory functions that businesses depend on. A prolonged work stoppage risks choking the flow of government services at a moment when the economy can least afford disruption.
The FWF also delivered a pointed rejection of a recent N100,000 minimum wage proposal by the Nigerian Governors’ Forum, dismissing it as a “Greek gift” designed to keep wages artificially low and calling it a “wicked conspiracy against workers.” In its place, the forum demanded a living wage, immediate clearance of all outstanding arrears, and a cost-of-living allowance, demands that, if met, would carry significant fiscal implications for a government already grappling with debt servicing pressures.
The forum directed its frustration not only at the government but at organised labour itself, accusing the Nigeria Labour Congress NLC and the Trade Union Congress TUC of a failure of leadership. It mandated both bodies to urgently engage the government toward resolving the crisis, a signal that patience within the labour movement is wearing dangerously thin.
Beyond wages, the FWF raised an alarm over the safety of public sector workers, saying kidnappings and attacks have become routine for Nigerians in general and civil servants in particular. The forum specifically condemned recent abductions in Oyo and Borno states involving children and teachers, demanding that the federal government use all available means, including negotiation to secure the release of hostages.
The call for the National Assembly to legislate the right of citizens to bear arms reflects the depth of anxiety within the forum’s membership, suggesting that confidence in the state’s capacity to guarantee basic security has eroded significantly.
The communiqué was signed by National Coordinator Andrew Emelieze and Secretary Ayo Ogundele, and was made available to journalists in Ibadan on Sunday.
The federal government has not yet issued a public response to the forum’s ultimatum. With the strike threat now formally on the table, the coming days will test whether the administration can move quickly enough to defuse tensions — or whether Nigeria faces the spectre of a public sector shutdown that could deepen economic hardship for millions of citizens at one of the country’s most turbulent moments.
As reported by Punch on Sunday, the NLC spokesperson, Benson Upah, while reacting to comments by the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) and Governor of Kwara State, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, maintained that workers should not earn anything less than N1 million monthly.
AbdulRazaq, in a Facebook post, said the proposal was informed by rising inflation, increasing living costs and the growing financial burden on Nigerian workers.
According to AbdulRazaq, state governments were already engaging the Federal Government and organised labour to arrive at a wage structure that balances workers’ welfare with fiscal sustainability.
Reacting to the proposal, Upah said although the governors’ consideration of a wage review was commendable, N100,000 was significantly below what workers require to cope with current economic realities.
“We consider it thoughtful of the Kwara State governor to propose this, but certainly, N100,000 falls far below the realistic figure,” he said.
The labour leader cited the continued depreciation of the naira, rising inflation, increases in electricity tariffs, higher fuel prices, declining purchasing power and the impact of new tax measures as factors making a substantially higher wage necessary.
“Given the realities around the exchange rate, inflation, raised tariffs, the surge in the pump price of petrol and associated costs, the decline in the purchasing power of the average worker, and the effects of the new tax regime on our cost of living, the realistic figure, subject to status quo maintenance, would be N1 million,” he stated.
Upah argued that government revenues have improved significantly and should support enhanced remuneration for workers.
“In light of the earnings by governments, this should not be a big issue. Check what is being shared at FAAC. The windfall from the Middle East war has put over N5tn in the treasury. Even though this is temporary, it is nonetheless very good for governments,” he added.
The NLC spokesman further stressed that the workforce remains the most valuable asset of any nation and should be adequately compensated to ensure productivity and economic growth.
“Finally, please note that the greatest asset of any nation is its workforce,” he said.
The debate over workers’ wages has intensified amid worsening economic conditions following the removal of fuel subsidies and the floating of the naira by the Federal Government.
In July 2024, the Federal Government approved a new national minimum wage of N70,000 after prolonged negotiations with organised labour. However, labour unions have continued to argue that inflation and rising living costs have significantly eroded the value of the wage.
Recent increases in electricity tariffs, transportation costs and food prices have further fuelled demands for another wage review, with labour leaders insisting that workers’ salaries should reflect prevailing economic realities.
The Nigeria Governors’ Forum has yet to formally present any proposal on a new minimum wage framework to the Federal Government or organised labour.