The Federal Workers Forum (FWF) has raised an alarm regarding the cessation of the N35,000 wage relief initiative introduced by the Federal Government to alleviate the economic strain resulting from the fuel subsidy removal.
According to the workers, the Federal Government fulfilled only one out of the promised six months of payment, leaving them in a challenging situation. Comrade Andrew Emelieze, the National Coordinator of FWF, expressed in a statement that workers have been enduring hardship since the fuel subsidy was removed.
Emelieze highlighted that despite the cost of living surging, the minimum wage remains at N30,000 monthly. He emphasized the escalating prices, citing an example of a bag of rice now exceeding N60,000, exacerbating the challenges faced by the workers.
“Federal Government workers nationwide have been going through tortuous moments since the removal of petroleum subsidy. Our take-home pay has been made meaningless as a result of the rising cost of living crisis and the constant devaluation of our naira. Salaries have remained the same while prices of goods and services have tripled within this period.
“We are surprised to note that the meager 35,000 naira wage award grudgingly given to the federal workers by the federal government to cushion the effects of the economic crisis caused by the subsidy removal has been stopped. The federal government paid only one month out of the six months promised.
“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.
“Civil servants have been financially embarrassed. The minimum wage has remained at 30,000 naira monthly while prices of everything continue to soar and a bag of rice now is above 60,000 naira.
“Most unfortunately, it is within this period that salaries are been delayed, some workers are being blocked from receiving salaries, promotion arrears not paid, etc,” he said.
