 a group of workers working with the federal government in Nigeria has appealed to the federal government){kind=link}
Federal Workers Forum (FWF) a group of workers working with the federal government in Nigeria has appealed to the federal government to pay up all forms of outstanding arrears owed the workers.
The workers implored the federal government to work out a cost of living allowance payment plan before the end of this month.
National Coordinator of FWF, Comrade Andrew Emelieze stated these on Wednesday.
He made these declarations via a statement made available journalists.
Emelieze explained that the harsh economic reality in Nigeria has been further compounded by the announcement of the removal of fuel subsidy.
He added that the country has been plunged into a serious cost of living crisis since the removal of subsidy on Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) by the federal government.
Emelieze while speaking further, insisted that living conditions of workers has been very precarious while the monthly income hardly carry the workers for a week.
He said that starvation is gradually setting in while workers are slowing turning into working corpses.
He regretted that life is becoming more and more meaningless to the workers due to the harsh economic condition.
He lamented that workers have gone borrowing to survive at exploitative interest rates from microfinance institutions.
Emelieze further urged the federal government to pay up all forms of outstanding arrears owed the workers which included salaries, promotions and duty tour allowance.
He also called on the the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC ) and the federal government to rap up all negotiations on a living wage for the Nigerian workers latest end of September 2023.
Emelieze said, “The harsh economic reality in Nigeria has been further compounded by the announcement of the removal of fuel subsidy, hence our nation has been plunged into a serious cost of living crisis. It is going to the third month since the withdrawal of fuel subsidy and prices of goods and services have soared but wages have remained the same thereby drastically reducing the purchasing powers of the Nigerian workers.
“The living conditions of workers has been very precarious, monthly income hardly carry the workers for a week. Workers have gone borrowing to survive at exploitative interest rates from microfinance institutions. As it is now, federal workers are really passing through the toughest of times, skipping meals and has not been able to meet up to a minimum living standard. Starvation is gradually setting in, workers are slowing turning into working corpses, disillusioned and frustrated. Live is becoming more and more meaningless to the workers and everything just seem nauseating.
“Federal workers have been suffering in silence and we have exceeded the limits of coping. The promise of labour and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for a wage review is taking longer than necessary. We demand an immediate stimulus plan for federal workers while the negotiations for a living wage continues.
“We call on the federal government to pay up all forms of outstanding arrears owed the workers (salaries, promotions, duty tour allowance (DTA). Finally, we call on the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC ) and the federal government of Nigeria to rap up all negotiations on a living wage for the Nigerian workers latest end of September 2023”.