The Department of State Services (DSS) has arrested the National Coordinator of the Federal Workers Forum (FWF), Comrade Andrew Emelieze, in Ibadan, Oyo State, ahead of a planned nationwide protest scheduled for Monday, July 1.
Emelieze, a vocal advocate for the rights of federal workers, was reportedly picked up on Sunday evening by operatives of the DSS in connection with the upcoming protest, which is aimed at pressing for the full implementation of the national minimum wage and other pending allowances.
A source within the labour movement, who spoke under anonymity, described the arrest as “tyrannical and unjustified,” insisting that the planned protest would proceed despite government clampdowns.
“This is a clear attempt to intimidate workers into silence. The DSS must release Comrade Andrew immediately. His arrest is a threat to democratic rights and freedom of expression,” the source said.
The FWF, in a statement issued by its National Secretary following an online general meeting held on Saturday, reaffirmed that the July 1 protest remains “sacrosanct” in the face of continued government neglect of workers’ welfare.
According to the Forum, while the Federal Government has made verbal commitments to disburse the next tranche of the delayed wage award—expected after the payment of June salaries—these promises fall short of addressing broader unresolved issues.
“Our demands remain non-negotiable,” the statement read. “They include full implementation and non-taxation of the new minimum wage, 30% cost of living allowance (COLA), payment of all outstanding promotion arrears since 2021, and complete settlement of peculiar and sector-specific allowances.”
The Forum further condemned the persistent delays in salary payments to staff of federal tertiary institutions and the failure to honour wage award pledges made earlier in the year.
“We reject this ‘slave wage’ system. Federal workers deserve dignified remuneration as promised under existing labour laws,” the group declared, while urging workers across the country to mobilise peacefully and demand accountability from the government.
Despite Emelieze’s detention, the FWF insists it will not back down from the protest, describing it as a constitutional and peaceful means to demand justice for Nigerian workers.
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