FEDERAL WORKERS FORUM (FWF)
Office of the National Secretary
Press Release
Date: October 14, 2025
FWF National Secretary Calls for Dismissal of Case Against Comrade Andrew Emelieze
The National Secretary of the Federal Workers Forum (FWF), Pharm. (Comrade) Itoro Obong, has made a clarion call on the Federal Government, through the Department of State Services (DSS), for the immediate dismissal of the case against Comrade Andrew Emelieze, the National Coordinator of the Forum.
The case, currently scheduled for hearing on October 21, 2025, at the Federal High Court in Ibadan, is being challenged as baseless and lacking in merit. According to Obong, “Comrade Emelieze never committed any crime against the state. His actions have always been in defense of the rights and welfare of Nigerian workers.”
It should be recalled that Comrade Emelieze, a well-known labour leader and advocate for social justice, was unlawfully detained for two weeks by the DSS in Ibadan. His arrest followed his plans to lead a national protest in Abuja on July 1, 2025, aimed at demanding long-overdue entitlements for federal workers.
As the National Coordinator of the Federal Workers Forum, Emelieze has consistently championed causes affecting federal workers across the country — including demands for:
Improved salaries and living wages;
Payment of withheld salary arrears;
Outstanding promotion arrears;
Unpaid wage awards;
And full implementation of percentage salary reviews arrears.
“We, as a forum, are making a clarion call for his total freedom and for the immediate dismissal of the case file against him and others. Comrade Emelieze committed no crime; he was simply advocating for what is rightfully due to Nigerian workers — entitlements which even members of the DSS are beneficiaries of,” Obong added.
He further urged organized labour, trade unions, civil society organizations, and the general public to speak out against this clear injustice. “Comrade Emelieze was fighting a just cause. Organized labour must not remain silent in the face of such intimidation,” he said.
In addition, the Forum used the opportunity to remind the Federal Government of its unfulfilled promise to fully implement the ₦35,000 wage award for federal workers — out of which only two months have been paid to date.
As the Coordinator of the health sector of the forum, Pharm. Obong also called for the full payment of the outstanding five months salary arrears related to the 25%-35% salary review owed to health professionals on the CONHESS and CONMESS salary structures.
“It is time for the government to act in good faith and fulfill its commitments to the workers who keep the country running,” he concluded.
For media inquiries, contact:
Office of the National Secretary
Federal Workers Forum (FWF)
[08122281418]
