Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has approved the renewal of the wage award for civil servants for another three months and the continuation of the transport subsidy in the state.
Makinde said the measures were aimed at cushioning the impact of the recent increase in pump prices and reducing the economic hardship faced by residents.
“I want to assure you today that the wage award will be renewed for another three months. We will also continue with the transport subsidy. I want to thank our workers for their efforts, dedication and support,” he said.
The governor spoke on Friday after returning from his annual leave, during which Acting Governor Abdulraheem Bayo Lawal, alongside other government officials, labour leaders and civil servants, welcomed him back to office.
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Media, Sulaimon Olanrewaju, disclosed this in a statement made available to journalists in Ibadan.
Makinde also directed the state government to meet with labour leaders, saying his administration was aware of the economic difficulties residents were facing as a result of some Federal Government policies.
He said the state would continue to take measures to address the situation, noting that Oyo’s monthly wage bill had increased from N4.5 billion in 2019 to N18 billion, while the minimum wage rose from N18,000 to N80,000 within the same period.
The governor commended Lawal for effectively managing the affairs of the state during his absence, saying governance continued seamlessly throughout the period.
Makinde also urged President Bola Tinubu to comply with constitutional provisions by transferring power to the Vice-President whenever he proceeds on leave.
He said his decision to hand over to Lawal demonstrated that governance could continue effectively when the head of government was away.
“We have shown in Oyo State that governance does not stop when the head is away. Teamwork ensured effective response to challenges. I am happy to report that I am not disappointed,” Makinde said.
The governor also thanked civil servants for supporting the Acting Governor, saying the state was approaching a critical period ahead of the 2027 elections.
“Five months from now, you will have a governor-elect. It won’t be about Makinde again. The decisions you take during the election will determine the direction and trajectory of governance in Oyo State,” he said.
Makinde also addressed allegations by the All Progressives Congress that he intended to divert the €55 million French loan facility to fund his presidential campaign.
He dismissed the allegation as baseless and said the facility was strictly intended to improve healthcare delivery and upgrade health facilities across Oyo State.
According to the governor, the loan process began in 2020, with 35 per cent of the facility already converted to a grant and an interest rate of 0.0006 per cent granted by the French government.
Makinde said the French government offered the facility following a visit by the French Ambassador shortly after he emerged as governor-elect in 2019.
He said Oyo State was allocated €55 million out of an €80 million facility available for Africa, despite questions raised by the Federal Government.
The governor also defended his administration’s record in education and governance, saying residents would assess the track records of those seeking political office.
Earlier, Lawal thanked Makinde for what he described as the positive trajectory of development in Oyo State and appreciated members of the legislature, executive, civil service and security agencies for their cooperation during his tenure as Acting Governor.
The Deputy Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Mo hammed Fadeyi, also welcomed Makinde back and commended Lawal for his performance as Acting Governor.
Fadeyi said the legislature was ready to receive the state’s 2027 budget.
The Head of Service, Adenike Fashina, commended Makinde for his commitment to workers’ welfare and prompt payment of salaries. She disclosed that the 2025 promotion exercise had largely been implemented and requested approval for the commencement of the 2026 promotion exercise.
Labour leaders also thanked the governor for his support for workers and expressed confidence in his administration.
The event was attended by the Secretary to the State Government, Musibau Babatunde; Chief of Staff, Segun Ogunwuyi; Deputy Chief of Staff, Kazeem Adeniyi; commissioners; permanent secretaries; local government chairmen and other government officials, as well as civil and public servants.