The group also decried the continued failure to fulfill promises made by the Accountant General and the Minister of Finance regarding the immediate payment of the arrears.

The Federal Workers Forum (FWF) has expressed disappointment with the President Bola Tinubu’s administration, accusing it of neglect and systemic repression of federal government employees.

In a statement issued on Saturday, the group condemned the Nigerian government’s handling of federal workers’ welfare and announced a nationwide protest starting Monday, May 26, 2025.

The release, signed by key FWF officials — Comrade Andrew Emelieze (National Coordinator), Comrade Itoro Obong (National Secretary), and Comrade Razaq Yakubu Oseni (Publicity Secretary) — asserted that federal workers had not received five months of the N35,000 wage award, a stipend initially promised to cushion the harsh economic effects of subsidy removal since March 2024.

The group also decried the continued failure to fulfill promises made by the Accountant General and the Minister of Finance regarding the immediate payment of the arrears.

The statement reads in part: "Our government is not treating federal government workers well. We are very disappointed in President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. This regime is becoming increasingly repressive and suppressive.

"Is it a crime to be a federal worker? Why all this torture of federal workers? Federal workers are going through a lot that only those in similar conditions can understand. Just imagine — payment of the N35,000 wage award meant to cushion the horrible effects of subsidy removal is now a problem. Outstanding five months of wage awards since March 2024 have become a tug of war, with the government continuing to promise and fail. This is not good enough.

"We have been more than patient, but our government is treating us as if we do not matter. The Accountant General had promised to pay immediately after the April salary. The Minister of Finance also promised to pay within 48 hours, yet workers have not seen any balance of the outstanding wage award. The government cannot continue to trample on our rights. We are citizens, not slaves. Our collective resolve now is that:

"On Monday, May 26, 2025, all federal workers in Abuja are to resume work at the Federal Ministry of Finance. We will not entertain any more promises. We shall continue to report to the Federal Ministry of Finance until we are paid.

"We demand the full implementation of the new national minimum wage with the June salary at the latest. The balance of the 40% peculiar allowance since August 2024 must be paid by the June 2025 salary at the latest.

"In addition, provisions must be made to start paying the Cost of Living Allowance (COLA) with the June salary. We demand the immediate payment of all other arrears owed to federal workers — including promotion arrears, hazard allowance, peculiar allowance balance, DTA, and the two years’ salaries owed to elongation officers at the Federal Ministry of Education.

"If by Wednesday, May 28, 2025, we are not paid, protests will resume at all federal government secretariats nationwide indefinitely until all arrears are cleared.

"All federal workers are expected to fully comply, except those on essential duties. Anyone who attempts to sabotage or betray the struggle will be held accountable. No actions or statements shall be made on behalf of federal workers without due consultation with them.

"We are compelled to take this action as all other means have yielded no results. We hope and pray the government listens to us, as we cannot continue to endure this act of disloyalty toward federal workers.

"Once again, to all federal workers in Abuja: on Monday, May 26, 2025, we shall converge at the Federal Ministry of Finance. Please ensure this message reaches every federal worker," the statement added.