Federal Workers Demand Immediate Payment of Outstanding Wage Awards from Tinubu

 

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.”