The Federal Workers Forum (FWF), under the leadership of Comrade Andrew Emelieze, extends deep appreciation to Nigerians and the international community for the outpouring of support over the unlawful arrest and detention of Comrade Emelieze by the Department of State Services (DSS).
In a statement signed by National Secretary, Comrade Itoro Obong, and National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Razak Oseni, the Forum stated that this moment highlights the deepening crisis faced by federal workers in Nigeria, from economic hardship to political intimidation. In response, the Forum says it is mobilizing a collective stand against what it calls a “modernized form of slavery” resulting from subsidy removal, naira devaluation, and continued wage oppression.
The Forum has presented six non-negotiable demands:
1. Full implementation and non-taxation of the new national minimum wage, including appropriate consequential adjustments.
2. 30% of consolidated salary as Cost of Living Allowance (COLA) to cushion the rising inflation.
3. Immediate payment of promotion arrears owed federal workers across Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) from 2021 to date.
4. Settlement of peculiar allowances and overdue salary reviews (25%-35%) in critical sectors like Health and Federal Teaching Institutions.
5. An end to persistent salary delays, particularly in the tertiary education sector.
6. Full payment of outstanding wage awards and entitlements.
The Forum also firmly demands the immediate and unconditional release of Comrade Andrew Emelieze, the National Coordinator of the FWF. According to the Forum, his arrest is not only a violation of his individual rights but also an attack on the collective dignity of all Nigerian workers.
The Federal Workers Forum called on the working class, labour unions, and civil society across the country to rise in solidarity saying the struggle of federal workers is a mirror of the nation’s broader economic and social injustice. It is time to resist further exploitation and reclaim our rights.
