Oyo State Leads in Workers’ Welfare with 86% Salary Hike, ₦80,000 Minimum Wage

Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has taken a bold step in prioritizing workers’ welfare with the announcement of an 86 percent salary increase for state employees, effective from January 2025. The move, which will raise the monthly wage bill to ₦11.9 billion, places Oyo State at the forefront of workers’ welfare in Nigeria.

The news was revealed by the state’s Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Prince Dotun Oyelade, following a meeting with the Oyo State Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Kayode Martins. The new salary structure includes a substantial increase in the minimum wage, which will rise from the current ₦30,000 to ₦80,000, setting a benchmark that surpasses other states and the federal government.

The salary boost, according to Oyelade, is part of Governor Makinde’s commitment to balancing workers’ welfare with the state’s broader economic needs. NLC Chairman, Comrade Martins, praised Governor Makinde’s efforts, calling him a “Workers’ Governor.” He highlighted that Oyo was the first state to implement the old ₦30,000 minimum wage and had already begun negotiating the new wage before the Federal Government approved the ₦70,000 benchmark.

The revised pay structure will significantly benefit state workers, with employees on Grade Levels 1 to 6 seeing their salaries rise to ₦80,000, while those on Grade Level 7 and above will experience increments ranging from ₦70,000 to over ₦180,000, depending on their rank. For instance, a worker on Grade Level 17, currently earning ₦170,000, will see their salary jump to ₦360,000.

This salary adjustment is not only a testament to Makinde’s proactive approach to workers’ welfare but also highlights his focus on resolving long-standing issues within the civil service. The governor had previously addressed the promotion backlog by announcing a four-year promotion for workers before the start of his tenure in 2019.