The Federal Workers Forum (FWF) has rejected the proposed N100,000 national minimum wage, describing it as inadequate and incapable of addressing prevailing economic realities facing Nigerian workers.
This is contained in a communiqué issued at the end of a meeting and opinion poll held to deliberate on hardship and insecurity across the country.
The communiqué was jointly signed by Andrew Emelieze, National Coordinator of FWF, Ayo Ogundele, National Secretary, and Aminu Yerima, National Mobilisation officer of the forum.
The forum said federal workers were grappling with worsening living conditions, low wages, unpaid arrears and rising insecurity, despite repeated government assurances on workers’ welfare.
According to the communiqué, the implementation of the N70,000 national minimum wage has fallen short of workers’ expectations and has failed to improve their purchasing power.
It alleged that only N40,000 was added uniformly to salaries across grade levels and that deductions further reduced the actual benefits received by workers.
The forum also expressed concern over the non-implementation of the 40 per cent peculiar allowance and outstanding wage award arrears promised by government officials.
On the proposed N100,000 minimum wage reportedly canvassed by governors, the forum said the offer fell far below what could be regarded as a living wage.
The forum described the proposal as a “Greek gift” and urged authorities to follow due process in negotiating a wage that reflects current economic realities.
The forum also decried the worsening security situation, saying workers and ordinary citizens were increasingly exposed to kidnappings, killings and other violent crimes.
It noted that schools had become major targets of criminal attacks, while many victims, including children, remained in captivity across different parts of the country.
The forum called on government to take urgent measures to address insecurity, secure the release of kidnapped persons and halt the killings recorded nationwide.
The forum further urged the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) to declare an indefinite nationwide strike over hardship and insecurity.
The workers body further gave President Bola Tinubu a 30-day ultimatum to tackle insecurity, kidnappings, killings and economic hardship facing Nigerians.