The Federal Workers Forum has demanded an urgent review of salaries for federal civil servants, proposing that Nigeria’s minimum wage be increased from N70,000 to N300,000.
The group is also calling for a new salary structure that would see the highest-ranking federal civil servants earn as much as N1.5 million monthly.
The demands were contained in a letter dated September 2, 2026, addressed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the National Assembly and other government officials.
Workers Say N70,000 Is No Longer Enough
The Federal Workers Forum argued that the existing N70,000 minimum wage does not adequately reflect current economic realities.
The forum also claimed that the implementation of the 2024 minimum wage had not fully translated into the expected improvement in workers’ earnings, alleging that many workers effectively received a flat N40,000 increase.
The group said the rising cost of food, transportation, housing, healthcare and other basic necessities had significantly reduced the purchasing power of federal workers.
Proposed Salary Structure
Under the proposal submitted by the forum, the minimum salary would rise to N300,000 for entry-level federal workers.
At the other end of the proposed structure, Level 17 officers would receive as much as N1.5 million monthly.
The demand represents a substantial increase over the current federal salary structure and would have major implications for the government’s wage bill if adopted.
The forum says the adjustment is necessary to create what it describes as a living wage that reflects prevailing economic conditions.
Workers Also Raise Other Concerns
The salary demand forms part of wider concerns raised by the group over the welfare of federal civil servants.
The Federal Workers Forum has also called attention to outstanding wage-related issues and other conditions affecting workers.
The group wants the Federal Government and lawmakers to urgently consider its proposals rather than allowing workers’ purchasing power to continue declining.
Minimum Wage Debate Continues
Nigeria’s current national minimum wage of N70,000 was approved under the administration of President Tinubu in 2024 following negotiations between the Federal Government, organised labour and employers.
The new figure represented an increase from the previous N30,000 minimum wage.
However, the cost of living has remained a major concern for workers and households, particularly because food, transport and other essential expenses have increased significantly.
The latest demand by the Federal Workers Forum is therefore likely to add fresh pressure on the government to review wages.
Demand Is Not Yet Government Policy
It is important to note that the N300,000 minimum wage and N1.5 million Level 17 salary are proposals from the Federal Workers Forum, not approved salaries.
Any change to the national minimum wage or federal public-service salary structure would require government action and the appropriate legal and administrative processes.