35,000 wage award: You betrayed us, we’re suffering – Workers to FG

The withdrawal of fuel subsidies has generated an economic crisis, and the Federal Workers Forum (FWF) has expressed alarm that the N35,000 salary award that the Federal Government had been giving workers to help ease the effects of this crisis has been discontinued.

On Thursday, the employees said that of the six months the Federal Government had promised them, just one month had been paid.

Comrade Andrew Emelieze, the National Coordinator of FWF, stated in a statement provided to DAILY POST that since the gasoline subsidy was removed, the workers are going through difficult times.

The minimum salary, he pointed out, has stayed at N30,000 per month despite rising prices, with a bag of rice now costing more than N60,000.

Since the termination of the petroleum subsidy, federal employees around the country have experienced difficult times. Because of the growing crisis in the cost of living and the ongoing depreciation of our naira, our take-home income has become obsolete. While the cost of products and services has tripled throughout this time, salaries have stayed the same.

It has astonished us to learn that the meagre wage award of 35,000 naira that the federal government had grudgingly handed to federal workers to help them weather the economic crisis brought on by the elimination of subsidies has been discontinued. Out of the six months promised, the federal government only paid for one.

“As federal employees, we feel deceived by the federal government.” Our boss has shown us a great deal of unfairness and infidelity. It doesn’t seem like we matter to anyone. Since we are citizens and not vagrants, we should be entitled to a fair pay. We feel deceived as federal employees.

“Financially, civil servants have been humiliated. While the cost of everything is rising and a bag of rice now costs more than 60,000 naira, the minimum salary has remained at 30,000 naira per month.

He stated, “Unfortunately, most of the time during this time, salaries are delayed, some workers are prevented from receiving salaries, promotion arrears are not paid, etc.”