*says federal workers are suffering in silence
“demands payment of 30% stimulus
*threatens nationwide protests
By; BAYO AKAMO, Ibadan
Worried by the present level of Nigeria’s economy, the Federal Workers Forum (FWF) has demanded 30% stimulus payment to all federal workers across the country.
In a letter addressed to President Muhammadu Buhari, signed by its National Coordinator, Comrade Andrew Emelieze, FWF stated that the time has come for the Federal government to come to the rescue of its workers by bringing ” forth a cost of living allowance package” for them and by extension the Nigerian society.
According to FWF in the letter dated, December, 12, 2022 , ” it is evident to us all that the economy is daily making live difficult for federal workers. Inflation and daily devaluation of our Naira has added to reducing the purchasing power of the Nigerian workers. Cost of living crisis has confronted the Nigerian workers and hardship has become the order of the day.”
” On our part as federal workers, we have tried to have understanding with the system . We have been suffering in silence. Our families are badly affected and there is no way we can continue in this condition without the help of our government. Really Sir, it should be an embarrassment that we the federal workers are crying out”, it said.
FWF added, ” we do not in anyway want to embarrass government but most sincerely we must also state that federal workers have been financially embarrassed. As the engine room of governance, we definitely need proper fuelling to keep the wheel moving. We need urgent help to escape this hardship.
” We therefore, call on government to come to our rescue and bring forth a cost of living allowance package for all federal workers and by extension the Nigerian society within the next fourteen days, else federal workers nationwide will be compelled to begin a permanent nationwide protest immediately this ultimatum elapses. “
It stressed further, “considering the fact that Nigeria is a low wage country, the ₦30,000 minimum wage will no doubt make Nigeria workers count among the 133 million multi dimensionally poor people as proposed by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS)”.
FWF noted ” we therefore, call on government to come to our rescue and bring forth a cost of living allowance package for all federal workers and by extension the Nigerian society within the next fourteen days else federal workers nationwide will be compelled to begin a permanent nationwide protest immediately this ultimatum elapses.”
The Federal Workers Forum stated, ” we believe that our country has what it takes to help her workers out of hardship.We are proposing the payment of 30% of the workers salary as stimulus payment to all federal workers and that our government should generate stimulus package for households”.
According to FWF ” most workers have gone borrowing on killer loans in order to survive, households have been badly affected and workers are gradually getting more and more frustrated. As a matter of facts, federal workers are suffering in silence and we know that other workers in Nigeria share similar fate.”
” Sir, we are compelled to write you and seek your immediate interventions to the deplorable living conditions of the federal workers and the nation’s workforce at large. We bring you greetings and our best wishes.It is our wish that this letter finds you in the best of mind. Hope is a great thing, we have been living on hope that things will get better but present day Nigeria has been a surprise, dashing our hopes.
” We will however, not stop hoping and a strong believe that things will get better. It is part of this hope that has made us to write you, hoping that you will rise up to the occasion.Your Excellency, we need not emphasize further, it is evident to us all that the economy is daily making live difficult for federal workers. Inflation and daily devaluation of our Naira has added to reducing the purchasing power of the Nigerian workers. Cost of living crisis has confronted the Nigerian workers and hardship has become the order of the day.
.
