The Oyo State Governor has officially announced the commencement of a N70,000 minimum wage payment once the consequential salary adjustment is resolved. This pivotal declaration was made during a statement released to the press.
In addition to the minimum wage announcement, the governor revealed an extension of the N25,000 wage award for workers and the N15,000 award for pensioners for an additional three months. This extension aims to provide support while negotiations for the consequential adjustments are ongoing. The governor emphasized that these wage awards would cease following the conclusions of negotiations to implement the minimum wage effectively.
Negotiations regarding the minimum wage are set to begin next week, with commitments from the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) to engage with the government team.
The governor expressed gratitude to teachers for their significant support during the election, acknowledging their crucial role in the state’s development. He reiterated his administration’s commitment to prioritizing the welfare of teachers and civil servants to ensure enhanced productivity.
Education remains a core focus of the governor’s administration, with plans to improve educational infrastructure to provide teachers with conducive environments for knowledge impartation.
The governor further expressed appreciation for the dedication of teachers, stating, “We are facing challenges as a country, but I urge you to remember that tough times don’t last, but tough people do. We will overcome these challenges together.”
Highlighting the importance of education for national development, he reassured teachers of continued support to ensure they are recognized for their contributions.
Over the past five years, the government has invested approximately N15 billion in educational infrastructure, although the gap identified years ago is now estimated to be closer to N70 billion. The governor outlined a commitment to allocate a minimum of N10 billion annually to educational intervention funds to address the infrastructural deficits and to increase teacher recruitment.
During the commissioning of new classroom facilities at the NUT Model School, the governor reiterated ongoing commitments to improve inner roads, including those in the Owode Housing Estate.
Additionally, the state NUT Chairman commended the governor for his achievements in the education sector, particularly concerning teachers’ welfare, career progression for primary school teachers, and regular payment of salaries and bonuses.
