Oyo State workers ended the year on a high note as Governor Seyi Makinde fulfilled his promise of paying the 13th-month salary. On the evening of Monday, December 30, 2024, workers across the state received their payments, sparking joy among civil servants.
In a statement released on Tuesday, the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Prince Dotun Oyelade, highlighted the significance of this gesture. According to Oyelade, this comes on the heels of the government’s ₦77 billion annual expenditure on salaries and wages for its workforce.
“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,” Oyelade remarked. He further disclosed that starting January 1, 2025, Oyo State’s wage bill will increase to ₦143 billion annually, reflecting an 86% hike.
Oyelade also emphasized that Oyo State now ranks among the top three states in Nigeria in terms of worker remuneration, with the highest number of government employees in the South West.
Governor Makinde’s tradition of paying the 13th-month salary began in 2019, and he reaffirmed his commitment during the 2023 Christmas Carol Service in Ibadan.
