Governor Seyi Makinde Approves Wage Award for Workers, Pensioners, PDP Reacts

The Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, on Monday agreed to implement a wage award that will see workers in the state receive a sum of N25,000, while pensioners will receive N15,000 for six months.

The decision was reached by Governor Makinde after members of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) threatened to embark on strike.

The labour unions had issued the threats due to the condition of workers in the state.

Giving an update on the outcome of the meeting with labour leaders, Makinde in a post on X wrote, “This morning, we addressed Oyo State workers and labour union leaders at the State Secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan.

“I informed them that our administration had approved the payment of N15,000 to each pensioner on the State’s payroll and N25,000 to each civil servant. The payment will commence from October 2023 for six months.

“I said that we would work towards a more sustainable solution for our workers within the six months. Our administration will continue to prioritise the welfare of workers while at the same time ensuring that we also prioritise the needs of the good people of Oyo State.”

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in its reaction to the development, commended Governor Makinde for attending to the welfare of workers in the statement.

PDP claimed that the decision of the Governor would provide much-needed relief to workers and pensioners who have been struggling to make ends meet.

The statement released by PDP reads, “The Oyo State Governor, Engr Seyi Makinde, has agreed to implement a wage award that will see workers in the state receive a sum of N25,000, while pensioners will receive N15,000 for six months. The announcement was made during a solidarity rally held at the State Secretariat, Governor’s Office, Ibadan on Monday.

“The decision comes after the governor inaugurated an 11-member ad-hoc inter-ministerial committee four weeks ago to address the demands of labour unions in the state. During the inauguration, Makinde urged the committee to approach the issue with an open mind and find solutions that are specific to the state.

“The committee, which is headed by the secretary to the state government (SSG), Prof Olanike Adeyemo, has been tasked with developing a report on how to implement the workers’ demands. Makinde assured the workers and retirees that the payment would begin in October and continue for the next six months.

“This move by Governor Makinde is seen as a positive step towards addressing the welfare of workers in Oyo State. The wage award will provide much-needed relief to workers and pensioners who have been struggling to make ends meet. It is hoped that this decision will improve the overall working conditions and standard of living for employees in the state during the economic hardship in the country.”