Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has fulfilled his longstanding promise by disbursing the 13th-month salary to civil servants, igniting widespread celebrations across the state as payment alerts illuminated workers’ phones on the evening of Monday, December 30. This gesture underscores the administration’s unwavering commitment to worker welfare, even as the state grapples with substantial financial obligations.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, Oyo State Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Prince Dotun Oyelade, emphasized the scale of the government’s investment in its workforce, noting, “This is in spite of the cumulative payment of ₦77 billion, which the government spends yearly on salaries and wages of Oyo State workers.” Oyelade highlighted recent advancements, adding, “Only two weeks ago, Governor Makinde approved the payment of ₦80,000 minimum wage for government workers after the issue of the consequential adjustment had been resolved by the negotiating council.”
From January 1, 2025, the state will channel ₦143 billion annually into salaries and wages, marking an 86% increase and positioning Oyo among the top three states nationwide for generous compensation packages, particularly given its status as the South West’s largest employer of government workers.
The payment aligns seamlessly with Governor Makinde’s public reassurance during the 2023 Christmas Carol Service, themed “Unto Us a Child is Born,” at the Remembrance Arcade, Government House, Agodi, Ibadan, where he declared, “Consistent with our practice since 2019, I want to assure the civil servants in Oyo State that, once again, we will be delivering on our promise.”
This annual ritual, now institutionalized under Makinde’s Omituntun agenda, has become a hallmark of his administration’s people-first approach, extending to pensioners through Christmas bonuses and wage awards of ₦25,000 for workers and ₦15,000 for retirees. Workers’ reactions poured in via social media, with many praising the timely alerts that arrived just before the year’s end, reinforcing Makinde’s reputation as a promise-keeper.
