The Federal Workers Forum has raised an alarm, claiming that the Federal Government has abruptly halted the N35,000 wage award initially provided to workers as a relief measure due to the economic crisis triggered by the fuel subsidy removal.
According to the workers, the government has only fulfilled one out of the promised six months of payment.
As reported by Daily Post, Comrade Andrew Emelieze, the National Coordinator of FWF in a statement on Thursday, expressed deep concern, highlighting the challenging times federal workers have been enduring since the subsidy removal.
He emphasized that the minimum wage remains stagnant at N30,000, while the cost of living has significantly risen, with a bag of rice now surpassing N60,000.
“Federal Government workers nationwide have been going through tortuous moments since the removal of petroleum subsidy. Our take home pay has been made meaningless as a result of the rising cost of living crisis and the constant devaluation of our naira. Salaries have remained the same while prices of goods and services have tripled within this period.
“We are surprised to note that the meager 35,000 naira wage award grudgingly given to the federal workers by the federal government to cushion the effects of the economic crisis caused by the subsidy removal have been stopped. The federal government paid only one month out of the six months promised.
Emelieze went on to express the workers’ sense of betrayal by the Federal Government, stating that they feel unfairly treated and neglected.
He underscored the financial strain on civil servants, pointing out delayed salaries, blocked payments, and outstanding promotion arrears.
“We the federal government workers feel betrayed by the federal government. Our employer has been very unfair and unfaithful to us. We have not been treated as if we matter. We are citizens, we are not beggers and we are supposed to be worthy of a fair wage. We the federal workers feel cheated.
“Civil servants have been financially embarrassed. Minimum wage has remained at 30,000 naira monthly while prices of everything continue to soar and a bag of rice now is above 60,000 naira.
“Most unfortunately, it is within this period that salaries are been delayed, some workers are being blocked from receiving salaries, promotion arrears not paid, etc,” he said.
