The Governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde has announced on Saturday that his Tenure would kick start the payment of #70,000 minimum wage once the issue related to the adjustment of the current salary is being resolved.
The announcement was made public through a statement issued to journalists in Ibadan, the state capital, by Sulaimon Olanrewaju, the Special Adviser on Media.
The Governor also revealed its three- month extension of the special wage awards which includes #25,000 for workers and #15,000 for pensioners.
According to him, The extension will remain effective until consequential adjustments are finalized and the minimum wage is implemented, at which point special payments will cease.
“On the minimum wage, negotiation will start next week and we will pay the N70,000 minimum wage. But the consequential adjustment is about to be negotiated. The NLC and our team will sit down to discuss it.”
Governor Makinde expressed gratitude to teachers for their overwhelming support in the last election and their invaluable contributions to the state’s development. He also assured that his administration will continue to prioritize the well-being and productivity of teachers and all civil servants, ensuring their continued effectiveness.
The governor reaffirmed education as a top priority, pledging to enhance educational infrastructure, thereby creating an ideal environment for teachers to share knowledge and empower students, securing a brighter future for the state.
According to Punch Newspaper, The governor expatiated further on its plans to improve the financial capacity of its workers.
“we are going through challenges as a country. We have issues of minimum wage and fuel prices, but I want to appeal to you to remember that tough times don’t last, but tough people do. We will outlast these challenges we face. He said
“Any country that wants to develop must educate its people. So, for us in the state, we will continue to take special care of our teachers because they are shaping our future” he added
He stressed further that,“When we came in, with the UBEC grant and matching fund we used to provide, we were spending about N3billion every year on infrastructure. So, over the past five years, we have spent about N15billion, but it is not enough, just like a drop in the ocean.
“If we continue to spend N3 billion yearly for the next 15 years, we still won’t cover the gap on the ground. So apart from SUBEB, we will have education intervention funds of a minimum of N10 billion every year towards bridging the infrastructural gap in education.”, the government revealed
“And of course, we will employ more teachers and provide them with a conducive learning environment that would guarantee better outcomes for our students.”He stated.
While commissioning a 10-classroom block built by the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT) at its Model School, the governor reaffirmed his administration’s dedication to repairing inner roads, specifically highlighting plans to improve roads within the Owode Housing Estate
The Chairman, Nigerian Union of Teachers, Oyo state, Raji ismali, expressed gratitude to the governor for his remarkable accomplishments in education, particularly for prioritizing teachers’ well-being through initiatives such as career advancement opportunities for primary school teachers, timely salary payments, promotions, leave bonuses, and health insurance, among other benefits.
Eniola Jolaoso