Oyo Govt Increases Workers’ Salaries by 86%

Korede Abdullah in Lagos

The Oyo state government has made a groundbreaking announcement, revealing that the salary and wages of workers in the state will increase by 86% starting from January 2025.

This significant hike will see the state government pay workers ₦11.9 billion monthly, up from the current ₦6.4 billion.

According to the Commissioner of Information and Orientation, Prince Dotun Oyelade on Thursday, this increase will translate to an annual commitment of over ₦143 billion on salaries and wages.

Prince Oyelade attributed this decision to Governor Seyi Makinde’s determination to prioritize the welfare of workers. “Gov Seyi Makinde is determined to cater for the welfare of workers while not compromising the welfare of the generality of the people and the critical sectors,” he stated.

The commissioner also highlighted Governor Makinde’s proactive approach to addressing the promotion crisis that had been ongoing since before his administration began in 2019.

The Oyo state chairman of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Kayode Martins, welcomed the announcement, praising Governor Makinde for his consistent support of workers.

“The ₦80,000 minimum wage and its consequential adjustments in Oyo state is more favourable to workers across all grade levels when compared with other states including the federal government,” he noted.

Martins affectionately referred to Governor Makinde as the “Workers’ governor,” citing Oyo’s pioneering implementation of the old ₦30,000 minimum wage.

With this significant increase, Oyo state workers can look forward to a substantial improvement in their standard of living.

As Prince Oyelade emphasized, “Governor Makinde is committed to giving workers more than they expect, setting a new standard for worker welfare in the state.”