In a distressing development, the Federal Workers Forum (FWF) has sounded the alarm over the suspension of the N35,000 wage relief initiative initiated by the Federal Government to alleviate the economic repercussions of the fuel subsidy removal. Workers, aggrieved by the abrupt halt, allege that the government fulfilled its commitment for only one month out of the promised six months.
The National Coordinator of FWF, Comrade Andrew Emelieze, conveyed these concerns in a statement provided on Thursday. Emelieze highlighted the challenges faced by federal workers in the aftermath of the fuel subsidy removal, emphasizing that the minimum wage has remained stagnant at N30,000 per month, while the cost of living continues to escalate. He pointed out that the current price of a bag of rice has exceeded N60,000, exacerbating the financial strain on workers.
Expressing the collective sentiment of federal workers, Emelieze voiced their sense of betrayal by the government, stating, “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 beggars and we are supposed to be worthy of a fair wage. We the federal workers feel cheated.”
The statement further highlighted the financial challenges faced by civil servants, including delayed salaries, blocking of some workers from receiving their due payments, and unpaid promotion arrears. The discontinuation of the meager N35,000 wage relief, initially intended to cushion the effects of the economic crisis, has added to the grievances of federal workers grappling with the escalating cost of living and economic uncertainties.
