Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has set a new benchmark in workers’ welfare by approving an 86% salary increase for state employees, raising the monthly wage bill to ₦11.9 billion, effective January 2025.
This announcement was made on Thursday by the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Prince Dotun Oyelade, following a meeting with the Oyo State Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Kayode Martins.
Oyelade revealed that the new minimum wage of ₦80,000 would replace the current ₦30,000, solidifying Oyo State’s position as a leader in workers’ welfare across Nigeria.
He emphasized Governor Makinde’s dedication to prioritizing employee welfare while ensuring the sustainability of other critical sectors of the state’s economy.
NLC Chairman, Comrade Kayode Martins, commended Governor Makinde, calling him a “Workers’ Governor.” He noted that Oyo State’s ₦80,000 minimum wage and associated adjustments were more generous than those adopted by other states and the federal government.
“Oyo was the first state to implement the old ₦30,000 minimum wage and began negotiating the new wage with labour leaders even before the Federal Government approved the ₦70,000 minimum wage,” Martins said.
Highlighting the increments, he said that workers on Grade Levels 1 to 6 will see a salary jump from ₦30,000 to ₦80,000, while those on Grade Level 7 and above will enjoy adjustments of ₦70,000 to over ₦180,000, depending on their grade level.
“For instance, a worker on Grade Level 17 currently earning ₦170,000 will now earn ₦360,000,” Martins said, adding that no other state in Nigeria has implemented such a robust pay structure.
READ ALSO: Peter Obi Donates N10 Million to College of Nursing Sciences
Oyelade stressed Makinde’s proactive approach to workers’ issues, citing the announcement of a four-year promotion for workers to resolve long standing promotion crises before his tenure began in 2019.
The commissioner noted that the prompt payment of salaries by the 25th of every month has significantly boosted workers’ morale and positively impacted the state’s economy.
He also disclosed that with the new wage structure, Oyo State’s annual wage bill will rise to ₦143 billion, a record commitment to civil service welfare.
Martins commended the cordial relationship between the state government and labour unions, pointing out that Oyo workers were exempted from the national industrial action by labour unions on December 2, 2024, due to the harmonious relationship in the state.
Follow the Parallel Facts channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaCQSAoHgZWiDjR3Kn2E
