DSS Summons Federal Workers Forum Leaders Over Nationwide Protest Against Wage Delays

The leadership of the Federal Workers Forum (FWF) has been officially invited by Nigeria’s Department of State Services (DSS) over their involvement in organizing a nationwide protest tagged #FederalWorkersProtest. The protests, which included the viral campaigns #OccupyFederalSecretariat and #ShutDownAllFederalSecretariat, were launched to demand the payment of wage awards and improved welfare for federal employees.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, Comrade Andrew Emelieze, the National Coordinator of the FWF and a former Chairman of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) in Oyo State, confirmed the DSS invitation. The summon comes in the wake of the indefinite strike action that began on April 22, 2025, in Ibadan, Oyo State’s capital, and spread across federal secretariats nationwide.

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Federal Workers Forum: We Stand Firm, Not Intimidated

According to Emelieze, the FWF leadership will honor the DSS invitation without hesitation or fear. He reiterated the legitimacy of the protest, noting that it was born out of prolonged government neglect and the non-payment of five months’ outstanding wage awards promised to federal workers by the administration of President Bola Tinubu.

“We are not in any way intimidated, we have no regrets and if we have to do it again, we will not hesitate,” Emelieze declared in the statement.

He insisted that the group’s actions were justified and driven by the principles of justice, public interest, and the defense of Nigerian workers’ rights. He urged all members of the FWF, the public, and media organizations to remain vigilant, particularly in case of any attempts to suppress the movement through intimidation or force.

“We shall proceed to honour the invitation with profound conviction that we have a just cause. We have no apologies, and we remain committed to freeing our people from servitude,” Emelieze affirmed.

He further encouraged federal workers across Nigeria to remain resolute, continue with the protest, and avoid succumbing to fear or pressure. He warned that the protest would not stop until all pending wage awards were paid and genuine reforms in workers’ welfare were implemented.

Federal Workers Begin Indefinite Protest Over Unpaid Wage Awards

The protest spearheaded by the Federal Workers Forum began in earnest last week, following the expiration of a 21-day ultimatum issued to the Federal Government. The warning had gone unheeded, prompting workers to mobilize under the FWF banner to express their frustration over what they described as deliberate neglect and insensitivity.

The movement officially kicked off in Ibadan at the federal secretariat, where hundreds of workers converged to begin the indefinite strike. Placards, chants, and slogans filled the air as government employees demanded their rights.

“As earlier agreed, we the federal workers in Nigeria commence an indefinite protest nationwide today, 22nd April, 2025, to press home our demands for justice,” Emelieze and FWF Secretary General, Comrade Itoro Obong, jointly declared during a press briefing.

The strike has since disrupted operations in several federal secretariats across the country, drawing national attention to the plight of underpaid and overlooked government workers. The campaigns—#OccupyFederalSecretariat and #ShutDownAllFederalSecretariat—have trended on social media, further amplifying the voices of the aggrieved workers.

Mounting Tensions Between Government and Workers’ Movement

The DSS’s invitation of FWF leaders marks a significant development in the unfolding standoff between the Nigerian government and federal workers. While the DSS has not publicly disclosed the specifics of the invitation, it is widely believed that the summon relates to concerns over national security and public order, stemming from the scale and coordination of the protests.

However, labour unions and civil society groups have voiced support for the workers’ demands and condemned any move to suppress their rights to peaceful assembly and protest. Critics argue that rather than intimidation, the government should prioritize dialogue and fulfill its promises to workers who are already grappling with the economic impact of rising inflation and stagnant wages.

Observers are closely monitoring how the government responds in the coming days. If the situation escalates or if attempts are made to detain protest leaders, it could trigger wider demonstrations and labor unrest across the country.

As the FWF leaders prepare to appear before the DSS, all eyes will be on the outcome of the meeting and whether it leads to negotiation or further tension. For now, federal workers remain on the streets, demanding not just their pay, but also their dignity.