Federal Workers Demand N300,000 Minimum Wage, N1.5m Top Salary

The Federal Workers Forum (FWF) has asked President Bola Tinubu and the National Assembly to urgently review federal civil servants’ salaries and raise the minimum wage to N300,000.

In a letter dated September 2, 2026, the forum also proposed a maximum salary of N1.5 million for Level 17 Step 1 officers, arguing that the current pay structure no longer reflects the economic pressures facing federal workers.

The letter was signed by FWF National Coordinator Andrew Emelieze and General Secretary Ogundele Ayodele. It was addressed to the Senate President and Speaker of the House of Representatives through the Clerk of the National Assembly. President Tinubu, the Chief Justice of Nigeria and the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation were also listed as recipients.

The workers said, “We call for justice and immediate wage review now, adjust the federal minimum wage to N300,000 and a maximum wage of N1.5m for the Level 17 officers.”

The forum based its N300,000 minimum wage demand partly on what it described as the incomplete implementation of the N70,000 minimum wage approved in 2024. It claimed that federal workers had not received the full consequential adjustment and related allowances.

“It will surprise you to hear that the Federal Government has not fully implemented the new national minimum wage since July 2024. We have been in the battle for full consequential adjustment of the new minimum wage.”

According to the FWF, the 2024 wage review raised the minimum wage from N30,000 to N70,000 but effectively resulted in a flat N40,000 increase across federal civil service levels.

The forum said, “Only N40,000 was added to the salaries of every federal worker across all levels.”

The demand comes amid continued disagreements over the implementation of the 2024 minimum wage and related allowances. Although the new wage framework is subject to review after three years, the FWF argued that this should not prevent the government from responding to the immediate loss of workers’ purchasing power.

The workers said, “As a matter of fact, it is suicidal for the federal workers to continue in this ugly situation. Hence, based on the current cost-of-living crisis, it can only be a matter of justice that the federal wages be immediately reviewed to meet up with the current economic realities in Nigeria.”

The forum cited rising prices of food, transport, accommodation, electricity, cooking gas and other essentials as major reasons why it considers the N70,000 minimum wage inadequate.

“Federal workers have been enduring the situation, and everything has been frustrating and nauseating. We cannot cope again. Federal workers are dying in instalments; we are suffering in silence; our salary is too poor; it is not taking us home,” the letter stated.

The FWF further claimed that some workers had taken on substantial debt from microfinance institutions and digital lending platforms to meet everyday expenses.

“Federal workers are now heavily indebted to microfinances and, most times, federal workers resort to phone loan apps to get transportation to work,” the group said.

It also claimed that some workers had turned to firewood for cooking because they could no longer afford cooking gas.

According to the forum, the financial strain could weaken workers’ productivity and create an environment that could encourage corruption.

“While the Federal Government is making more money now, the federal workers are underpaid and subjected to unprecedented sufferings and hardship,” the workers said.

The FWF also linked its salary review demand to rising government revenue and spending. It described federal workers as the “engine room of governance” and argued that they should benefit from improved national earnings.

It said, “The federal workers are the goose that lays the golden egg, but we are alienated from our labour.”

The proposed salary structure would begin at N300,000 for Level 1 Step 1 workers and rise progressively to N1.5 million for Level 17 Step 1 officers.

Grade Level Proposed Salary
Level 1 N300,000
Level 2 N330,000
Level 3 N360,000
Level 4 N390,000
Level 5 N420,000
Level 6 N450,000
Level 7 N480,000
Level 8 N510,000
Level 9 N550,000
Level 10 N600,000
Level 12 N700,000
Level 13 N750,000
Level 14 N800,000
Level 15 N1 million
Level 16 N1.2 million
Level 17 N1.5 million

The forum said its N300,000 minimum wage proposal was based on estimated monthly spending on food, transportation, accommodation, family support, electricity, cooking gas, phone and data, water and other utilities.

“Our projections here are fair, and we believe it can still be accommodated in the present budget based on the daily increased earnings and the excess crude oil sales earnings,” the forum said.

Beyond salaries, the FWF demanded payment of outstanding salaries, promotion arrears and other entitlements owed to federal workers.

It also called for the immediate payment of arrears under the 40 per cent peculiar allowance, full consequential adjustment of the 2024 minimum wage and a permanent Cost of Living Allowance.

Other demands included a Family Support Allowance, an end to stagnation in the civil service, declaration of vacancies for promotions, comprehensive health insurance for workers and pensioners, car and housing loan schemes, long-service awards and improved pension arrangements.

The forum also requested free education for the children of federal workers and pensioners in federal institutions, lower taxation on workers’ allowances and additional tax relief measures.

On wider social issues, the FWF called for a comprehensive social security programme for unemployed and underemployed Nigerians. It also sought free medical care for children, pregnant women and elderly citizens, alongside federal intervention programmes for cancer and other life-threatening diseases.

The workers further demanded stronger action against insecurity, including efforts to secure the release of kidnapped Nigerians.

The forum also asked the National Assembly to investigate reports that part of workers’ contributory pension savings was being borrowed by the executive.

“We like to bring to the notice of the National Assembly that we are hearing rumours that part of our contributory pension savings is being borrowed by the executive. We are calling for investigations and an immediate stoppage cum refund if it is true,” it stated.

The FWF also called for the return of petrol subsidy, controls on prices of essential goods and services, stronger local production and industrialisation, and measures to reverse the decline in Nigerians’ purchasing power.

The forum urged lawmakers to take its demands to President Tinubu, insisting that federal workers should not have to wait until July 2027 for another salary review.

It said, “Federal workers have suffered enough. It has been three years of torture, torment and agony for the federal workers since the removal of fuel subsidy.”

The FWF concluded by asking lawmakers and other government officials to treat its proposals as an emergency intervention, arguing that better wages are necessary to protect workers’ welfare and improve their capacity to implement government policies effectively.

The group stated, “It is our prayers that the National Assembly, being the representative of the people, take up our plea with the utmost responsibility and act accordingly to ensure a just society.”

Do you think the Federal Government should approve the proposed N300,000 minimum wage before the next statutory review?