On Wednesday, a group of federal civil servants in Ibadan, Oyo State, gathered in protest at the Federal Secretariat in Ikolaba, expressing deep dissatisfaction with their current working conditions and welfare. This protest, organized by the Federal Workers Forum (FWF), was led by the forum’s National Coordinator, Andrew Emelieze, and its Secretary General, Itoro Obong. The action follows the expiration of a 21-day ultimatum given to the Federal Government to address their grievances.
The protesting workers demanded several key actions from the government, chief among them being the immediate disbursement of the five-month backlog of wage award arrears. They also called for the implementation of a 40 percent peculiar allowance along with the payment of its accrued arrears. The protestors carried placards bearing messages that reflect their growing frustration, with slogans like “Pay us five months wage awards,” “70k minimum wage is a failure,” “Federal workers have suffered enough,” and “FG workers live on loans.”
Addressing journalists at the protest, Emelieze accused the government of consistently neglecting the needs of federal employees, describing its approach to worker welfare as exploitative. He noted that federal workers have endured years of hardship due to inadequate compensation, delayed payments, and poor working conditions. He emphasized that the indefinite protest was born out of sheer necessity, as workers could no longer withstand the economic strain.
According to Emelieze, despite government claims to the contrary, the five-month wage award arrears have not been paid since the payments ceased in March 2024. He criticized the proposed ₦70,000 minimum wage, calling it insufficient and labeling it a “slave wage,” and demanded its immediate review to reflect current economic realities.
He further decried the excessive taxation of federal workers’ meager earnings and urged the government to reevaluate its tax policies. Emelieze appealed directly to President Bola Tinubu, urging him to take swift and decisive action to address the workers’ demands and improve their welfare. He warned that the daily protests would persist from morning until noon until the government takes concrete steps to resolve the issues at hand.
Ultimately, the protest highlights the growing discontent among federal workers and the urgent need for the government to prioritize labor welfare, especially in the face of rising economic challenges. The protesters made it clear that they see themselves as the foundation of effective governance and demand to be treated with the dignity and fairness they believe they deserve.