 |
President
Bola Ahmed Tinubu |
Federal workers, under the Federal Workers Forum (FWF), are urging President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the federal government to pay their outstanding three-month wage awards promptly.
Calls for Action from Federal Workers
In
an online meeting held on Saturday, the FWF emphasized their demand for payment
of the wage awards for March, April, and May. These payments were introduced as
a subsidy relief measure following the removal of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS)
subsidies.
Communiqué Highlights Urgency
A
communiqué issued at the end of the meeting on Sunday highlighted the workers'
grievances. The communiqué, conveyed by National Coordinator Comrade Andrew
Emelieze, stated:
“It
has been nearly four months since the federal government stopped the payment of
wage awards to federal workers. Despite repeated pleas, all efforts have fallen
on deaf ears.”
Hardships Following Subsidy Removal
The
FWF discussed the hardships federal workers face since the fuel subsidy
removal. They resolved to begin continuous peaceful protests and demonstrations
at federal government secretariats nationwide until their demands are met.
Planned Protests and Demands
The
protests are set to commence on June 24th and will continue until the wage
awards and the new national minimum wage are addressed. The FWF urged every
federal worker to participate, stressing:
“Every
federal worker must take this protest as a duty, and anyone who opposes this
continuous protest is an enemy of the workers.”
Support and Solidarity
The
FWF called for support from industrial unions, the Nigeria Labour Congress
(NLC), and the Trade Union Congress (TUC). They also condemned the delay in
pension and gratuity payments to retired federal workers, insisting on
immediate resolution.
Fundamental Human Rights and Fair Treatment
The
communiqué underscored the right to protest as fundamental, labeling any
non-participant a traitor. The workers stressed:
“We are citizens, not slaves. Enough of this exploitation of the vulnerable. The government has cheated us enough. Pay us what you owe us. We have worked for it; we are not beggars.”
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