The Federal Workers Forum (FWF) is concerned that the N35,000 salary award that the Federal Government had been providing to workers to help them cope with the economic fallout from the elimination of fuel subsidies has been discontinued.
On Thursday, the employees said that of the six months that they had been promised, the Federal Government had only paid for one.
In a statement provided, Comrade Andrew Emelieze, the National Coordinator of FWF, stated that the workers are going through difficult times as a result of the gasoline subsidy being removed.
He pointed out that although prices are still rising and a bag of rice now costs more than N60,000, the minimum wage has stayed at N30,000 per month.
Workers for the federal government have endured difficult times all throughout the country ever since the fuel subsidy was eliminated. The mounting crises of living expenses and the ongoing depreciation of our naira have rendered our take-home income useless. During this time, the cost of products and services has tripled, while salaries have stayed the same.
We are shocked to learn that the federal government has discontinued the measly 35,000 naira salary award that it had unwillingly handed to federal employees to help them weather the economic catastrophe brought on by the elimination of subsidies. Out of the six months promised, just one month was paid by the federal government.
“We, the federal government employees, feel deceived by the federal government. Our employer has been extremely unjust and disloyal towards us. We have not been given the respect we deserve as citizens. We feel cheated,” he said.
“Civil servants have suffered financial embarrassment as a result of the minimum wage remaining at 30,000 naira per month, despite the fact that the cost of goods is rising and a bag of rice now costs over 60,000 naira.
Most regrettably, this period has seen salary delays, workers being prevented from receiving their salaries, unpaid promotion arrears, etc.”