A large group of federal staff members gathered at the Federal Secretariat in Ikolaba, Ibadan, on Monday to hold a peaceful demonstration. These employees, representing the Federal Workers Forum (FWF), voiced their grievances regarding economic instability, unpaid benefits, and safety issues throughout the region.
National Coordinator Andrew Emelieze addressed the media, highlighting that the current economic pressure has rendered the federal minimum wage insufficient. He stated that the government has failed to settle promotion arrears, a 40 percent peculiar allowance, and the remaining two months of a promised wage award. Emelieze emphasized that the cost of living has surged, making immediate financial adjustments vital for the workforce.
Beyond economic issues, the group expressed deep anxiety regarding kidnappings and violence. Their list of demands includes reduced tariffs on necessities, tuition-free education for their children at federal schools, and reinstated loan programs. To maintain pressure on the administration, the forum has urged the NLC and TUC to initiate a two-day national strike and mandated that all federal workers wear black every Monday until their requirements are addressed.