FWF Urges President to Drop Charges Against Detained Coordinator, Cites Intimidation of Workers
The Federal Workers Forum (FWF) has appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to intervene in the case of its National Coordinator, Comrade Andrew Emelieze, who was recently re-arrested by the DSS following a peaceful protest by federal workers.
In a letter dated September 15, 2025 — also sent to the National Assembly and Judiciary — the forum described Emelieze’s arrest as a deliberate move to silence the group and criminalise lawful protest.
Signed by state chapter leaders and members of its Mobilisation Committee, the letter criticized the decision to single out Emelieze, who led the July 1 protest demanding unpaid wage and promotion arrears, welfare improvements, and full implementation of the minimum wage.
“This protest was a collective decision. Comrade Emelieze acted with our mandate. If you must punish anyone, punish all of us,” the forum said.
They also questioned whether such actions align with President Tinubu’s pro-democracy image, warning that suppressing voices of dissent could damage the government’s credibility.
Despite the protest prompting a response from the Accountant General, who promised to clear wage award arrears, the FWF expressed disappointment that authorities targeted the messenger instead of addressing the workers' concerns.
The forum reiterated demands for:
- Payment of all outstanding wage and promotion arrears
- Full implementation of the new national minimum wage
- Reversal of the proposed petrol tax scheduled for January 2026
They called on the government to act in good faith rather than repress workers' voices.
Following his release in August, Emelieze described his 15-day detention as a traumatic experience that left him ill, but thanked supporters for standing by him.
“It was something I wouldn’t wish on my worst enemy. But I’m recovering,” he said.
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