The Federal Workers Forum (FWF) has announced its complete endorsement of the indefinite nationwide industrial action declared by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC), set to begin on Monday.
The NLC and TUC have vowed to commence an indefinite strike Monday to protest against the government’s failure to conclude and pass into law a new National Minimum Wage Act and reverse the hike in electricity tariff to N65/kWh.
The workers’ forum gave its full backing to the industrial action in a communique issued at the end of an online meeting of federal workers nationwide on Saturday and released to the media on Sunday.
Titled ‘President Tinubu: pay up three months wage award arrears, federal workers will ensure full compliance with the indefinite national strike, resign now if you cannot pay a living wage, don't plunge Nigeria into chaos,’ the communique was signed by its National Coordinator (FWF), Comrade Andrew Emelieze.
Describing the disposition of the government towards the workers as very disappointing, the forum said: "It is obvious government is playing games on the new national minimum wage, this is truly very mindless and most insensitive."
The communique reads in part "We the federal workers are particularly surprised that the federal government is treating us this way. As the federal workforce and the engine room of governance, if truly government cares; federal workers should not be passing through the hardship and ordeal we are currently subjected to.
"As patriotic citizens, the federal workers have tried coping with the situation but it has been very difficult surviving the harsh economy orchestrated by the unilateral removal of fuel subsidy by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Prices of goods and services have increased by over 300%. Our national currency has been badly devalued. Federal workers now find it very difficult to feed and survive in Nigeria.
"Most unfortunately, government has stopped the payment of the ₦35,000 wage award in the month of February to the federal workers. It is shameful that government now owes the federal government workers three months’ wage award. Government is also owing several arrears of allowances, promotion arrears and several other monies owed the federal workers.”
The forum, however, declared that federal workers “cannot continue suffering unnecessarily, we have endured this hardship enough”.
It said, "The federal government should pay up three months wage award and other arrears of payment owed the federal workers.
"That the federal government is not permitted to borrow any amount from our contributory pension fund.
"We are in total support of the indefinite national strike action called by labour. Federal workers should ensure full compliance and complete shutdown of all federal government secretariats nationwide.
"That Mr President and any state governor who cannot pay a living wage should resign.
"That if after five working days from the commencement of the indefinite strike, and government is not bulging, labour should lead the workers to occupy the three arms zone and state government houses nationwide.
"We call for solidarity and support from the Nigerian people."