Federal Workers Protest Insecurity, Economic Hardship at Ibadan Federal Secretariat
Federal workers in Oyo State on Monday staged a peaceful protest at the Federal Secretariat, Ikolaba, Ibadan, joining their counterparts across the country to demand urgent government action on worsening insecurity, rising economic hardship and the non-implementation of outstanding workers’ welfare packages.
The protest, organised under the aegis of the Federal Workers Forum (FWF), saw workers carrying placards and marching peacefully within the premises of the Federal Secretariat while calling on the Federal Government to address their grievances.
The workers said the demonstration was in line with a resolution reached at an emergency virtual meeting of the forum. In a communiqué jointly signed by the Forum’s National Coordinator, Comrade Andrew Emelieze, and General Secretary, Comrade Ayo Ogundele, the workers expressed concern over the country’s deteriorating security situation, citing persistent killings, kidnappings and the continued captivity of children abducted in Oyo State and other parts of the country.
The forum also lamented the worsening cost of living and alleged that the Federal Government had yet to fully implement the ₦70,000 national minimum wage, while the outstanding two-month wage award balance, the 40 per cent peculiar allowance and promotion arrears remained unpaid.
According to the workers, the current minimum wage has been overtaken by economic realities, making an immediate wage review imperative. They also demanded the payment of a cost-of-living allowance or the resumption of wage award payments to cushion the effects of inflation.
Other demands include the removal of tariffs on essential goods and services, free education for the children of federal workers in federal institutions, the introduction of a functional car loan scheme and a special family support allowance.
The forum further called on the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) to declare a two-day nationwide strike over insecurity and economic hardship, while urging federal workers to wear black every Monday as a symbol of protest until their demands are met.