Federal Workers in Oyo State Begin Indefinite Strike Today
Federal government workers in Oyo State have embarked on an indefinite strike action to protest the non-payment of their five-month wage award arrears. The workers, under the aegis of the Federal Workers Forum (FWF), commenced the protest on Tuesday, April 22, 2025, at the Federal Secretariat in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.
Speaking at the protest ground, Comrade Andrew Emelieze, National Coordinator of the FWF, and Comrade Itoro Obong, the Secretary-General, confirmed the commencement of the strike and reiterated the workers’ resolve to continue until their demands are fully met by the federal government.
According to the union leaders, the strike followed the expiration of a 21-day ultimatum previously issued to the federal government, which they said had failed to yield any positive response.
“Our demands are straightforward,” Emelieze stated. “We are asking for the immediate payment of five months of unpaid wage award arrears, the implementation of a 40% peculiar allowance, including the backlog, and a review of the excessive taxation on our already meagre salaries.”
The strike, which began peacefully, saw participation from federal workers across various agencies and parastatals nationwide, with many converging at federal secretariats in solidarity. The FWF emphasised that the protest was not limited to Oyo State but was part of a nationwide movement, despite the presence of heavily deployed security operatives at protest locations.
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The group accused the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of implementing anti-labour policies and ignoring the plight of federal employees. “All that has come from Mr President has been a bad example, anti-workers, and horribly promoting hardship among federal government workers,” the union leaders added.
The FWF stated that the strike would persist indefinitely until all demands are addressed, urging the federal government to take urgent action to prevent further disruptions in the civil service.
Content Credit| Ohidah Oluwaferanmi
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