Federal Civil servants under the umbrella of the Federal Workers Forum, (FWF), has demanded the immediate and unconditional release of her National Coordinator, Comrade Andrew Uche Emelieze.
The group also called for an end to the continued persecution of our comrade by the Department of State Services (DSS).
The forum made the request in a press statement signed by the Secretary, Federal Workers Forum (FWF), Pharm Itoro Obong and made available to DECENCY GLOBAL NEWS.
”The FWF hereby gives the DSS a 48-hour ultimatum to release Comrade Andrew Uche Emelieze. Failure to do so will compel us to embark on radical actions in defence of our rights and dignity, the statement stated.
FWF recalled that “On 3rd July, the Department of State Services (DSS) arrested Comrade Andrew Uche Emelieze of the Federal Workers Forum (FWF) for the second time. He was first arrested on 30th June, on the eve of the planned national protest organised by the FWF over the issues of minimum wage and wage awards.
DECENCY GLOBAL NEWS reports that the Federal Government has persistently defaulted on the payment of the agreed minimum wage.
It was only after nationwide protests by Federal Workers—mobilised and coordinated by a national team led by Comrade Andrew Emelieze and Secretary Pharm Itoro Obong—that the government reluctantly paid a one-month wage award.
The geroup noted that “However, following this solitary payment, the Federal Government has refused to continue with the wage awards which they promised the second tranche after June salary and has also failed to implement the newly proposed ₦70,000 minimum wage in full. It is important to note that most state governments are now paying wages close to the new minimum standard—except the Federal Government. This failure has compelled Federal Workers to organise and rise in protest, especially in light of the inaction of the affiliated unions within the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC)”.
