The Federal Workers Forum (FWF) has demanded an immediate upward review of the federal minimum wage from N70,000 to N300,000, proposing a maximum salary of N1.5 million for Level 17 officers.

The workers, in a letter dated September 2, 2026, addressed to President Bola Tinubu and the National Assembly, said the current salary structure had become inadequate amid worsening economic conditions and rising cost of living.

The letter, signed by the National Coordinator of the forum, Andrew Emelieze, and its General Secretary, Ogundele Ayodele, was also copied to the Chief Justice of Nigeria and the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation.

The FWF said federal workers could no longer wait until the statutory review period of the N70,000 minimum wage, insisting that the current economic realities required urgent intervention.

“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 stated.

The group also alleged that the Federal Government had yet to fully implement the consequential adjustments and other benefits associated with the N70,000 minimum wage approved in 2024.

According to the workers, the implementation resulted in a flat N40,000 increase across salary levels rather than adjustments that adequately reflected the hierarchy and responsibilities within the federal civil service.

“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,” the letter stated.

The forum said the rising cost of food, transportation, accommodation, electricity, cooking gas and other basic necessities had eroded workers’ purchasing power.

“Federal workers are dying in instalments; we are suffering in silence; our salary is too poor; it is not taking us home,” the workers said.

The proposed salary structure would place Level 1 Step 1 workers on N300,000 monthly, rising through the various grade levels to N1.5 million for Level 17 Step 1 officers.

Under the proposal, Level 2 workers would earn N330,000, Level 3 N360,000, Level 4 N390,000, Level 5 N420,000, Level 6 N450,000 and Level 7 N480,000.

The forum proposed N510,000 for Level 8, N550,000 for Level 9, N600,000 for Level 10, N700,000 for Level 12, N750,000 for Level 13, N800,000 for Level 14, N1 million for Level 15, N1.2 million for Level 16 and N1.5 million for Level 17.

The workers also demanded payment of outstanding salaries, promotion arrears and other entitlements, including the 40 per cent peculiar allowance and full consequential adjustment of the 2024 minimum wage.

Other demands include the introduction of a permanent Cost of Living Allowance and Family Support Allowance, an end to career stagnation, improved health insurance for workers and pensioners, housing and car loan schemes and better pension arrangements.

The forum further called for free education for the children of federal workers and pensioners in federal institutions, tax relief measures and the introduction of social security programmes for unemployed and underemployed Nigerians.

It also demanded an investigation into allegations that part of workers’ contributory pension savings was being borrowed by the executive arm of government.

“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,” the workers said.

The FWF further urged the government to consider the return of petrol subsidy, introduce price-control measures for essential goods and services, strengthen local production and tackle insecurity.

It argued that improved wages would enhance workers’ welfare, boost productivity and reduce the pressure that could expose public servants to corrupt practices.

“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 forum said.

The group urged the National Assembly to treat the demand as an emergency intervention and prevail on the Federal Government to immediately review workers’ salaries in line with current economic realities.