Why Nigerian Workers Are Taking It to the Streets: Tinubu's Missed Payments

The administration of President Bola Tinubu has been criticized by the Federal Workers Forum (FWF) for systematic persecution of federal government workers and for neglecting them.

The group announced a nationwide protest beginning Monday, May 26, 2025, and denounced the Nigerian government's treatment of federal workers' welfare in a statement released on Saturday.

The release, signed by key FWF officials — Comrade Andrew Emelieze (National Coordinator), Comrade Itoro Obong (National Secretary), and Comrade Razaq Yakubu Oseni (Publicity Secretary) — asserted that federal workers had not received five months of the N35,000 wage award, a stipend initially promised to cushion the harsh economic effects of subsidy removal since March 2024.

The group also decried the continued failure to fulfill promises made by the Accountant General and the Minister of Finance regarding the immediate payment of the arrears.

 

The statement reads in part: "Our government is not treating federal government workers well. We are very disappointed in President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. This regime is becoming increasingly repressive and suppressive.

 

"Is it a crime to be a federal worker? Why all this torture of federal workers? Federal workers are going through a lot that only those in similar conditions can understand. Just imagine — payment of the N35,000 wage award meant to cushion the horrible effects of subsidy removal is now a problem. Outstanding five months of wage awards since March 2024 have become a tug of war, with the government continuing to promise and fail. This is not good enough.

 

"We have been more than patient, but our government is treating us as if we do not matter. The Accountant General had promised to pay immediately after the April salary. The Minister of Finance also promised to pay within 48 hours, yet workers have not seen any balance of the outstanding wage award. The government cannot continue to trample on our rights. We are citizens, not slaves. Our collective resolve now is that:

 

"On Monday, May 26, 2025, all federal workers in Abuja are to resume work at the Federal Ministry of Finance. We will not entertain any more promises. We shall continue to report to the Federal Ministry of Finance until we are paid.

 

"We demand the full implementation of the new national minimum wage with the June salary at the latest. The balance of the 40% peculiar allowance since August 2024 must be paid by the June 2025 salary at the latest.

 

"In addition, provisions must be made to start paying the Cost of Living Allowance (COLA) with the June salary. We demand the immediate payment of all other arrears owed to federal workers — including promotion arrears, hazard allowance, peculiar allowance balance, DTA, and the two years’ salaries owed to elongation officers at the Federal Ministry of Education.

 

"If by Wednesday, May 28, 2025, we are not paid, protests will resume at all federal government secretariats nationwide indefinitely until all arrears are cleared.

Except for those doing vital jobs, all federal employees are expected to comply completely. There will be consequences for anyone who tries to undermine or betray the struggle. Federal employees must be consulted before any decisions or statements are made on their behalf.

Since every other option has failed, we are forced to take this action. We cannot stand this act of betrayal of federal employees any longer, so we hope and pray that the administration will listen to us.

To all federal employees in Abuja once more, we will gather at the Federal Ministry of Finance on Monday, May 26, 2025. "Please make sure that every federal employee receives this message," the statement continued.