FIC Report (Oyo State) – Oyo State governor, ‘Seyi Makinde, has assured that his administration will commence the payment of the N70,000 minimum wage once the issue of consequential salary adjustment has been addressed.
This was as the governor announced the extension of the N25,000 wage award to workers and the N15,000 wage award to pensioners by another three months.
The extension, the governor noted, is to cover the period that the negotiation on the consequential adjustment will last, noting that the payment of the wage award will stop upon the conclusion of negotiations to effectively implement the minimum wage.
Governor Makinde made this announcement on Saturday, October 5th 2024 during the 2024 World Teachers’ Day Celebration with the theme: “Valuing Teachers’ Voices Towards a New Social Contract for Education,” held at the NUT (ENDWELL) Model College Sports Complex, Owode Housing Estate, Apata, Ibadan.
He said, “On the minimum wage, negotiation will start next week and we will pay the N70,000 minimum wage. But the consequential adjustment is about to be negotiated. The NLC and our team will sit down to discuss it.”
Governor Makinde, who lauded teachers in the state for their massive support to him during the last election and their immeasurable contributions to building the state, said his government will continue to prioritise the welfare of teachers and all civil servants in the state so that they would continue to be productive.
Noting that education remains one of the major pillars of his government, the governor promised to fix more education infrastructure so that teachers can continue to impart knowledge in a conducive environment in order to guarantee a better future for the state.
“I want to say kudos to the teachers. Everywhere I went during the campaign, you mobilised yourselves and supported us wholeheartedly. So, I appreciate you and I say thank you.
“We are going through challenges as a country.
“We have issues of minimum wage and fuel price but I want to appeal to you to say that tough times don’t last but tough people do. We will outlast these challenges we are faced with.”
The governor added, “Any country that wants to develop must educate her people.
“So, for us in Oyo State, we will continue to specially look after our teachers, because they are dealing with our future.
“You teachers, you have to be put where you belong.
“So, I thank you for your support and dedication to duty. We still have a long way to go.
“When we came in, with the UBEC grant and matching fund we used to give them, we were spending about N3 billion every year on infrastructure.
“So, for the past five years, we have done about N15 billion but it is not enough – just like a drop in the ocean.
“The gap we have to fill, when we did the analysis a few years ago, it was around N40 billion but I can tell you now that it will be close to N70 billion.
“If we continue to spend N3 billion yearly for the next 15 years, we still won’t cover the gap on ground.
“So apart from SUBEB, we will have education intervention funds of a minimum of N10 billion every year towards bridging the infrastructural gap in education.
“And of course, we will employ more teachers and we will put them in a conducive learning environment that would guarantee better outcomes for our students.”
Earlier, the leadership of the Nigeria Union of Teachers, (NUT), Oyo state wing had demanded the implementation of the new minimum wage to teachers and the entire state workforce.
The NUT Chairman, Mr Raji Ismail, urged the governor to fast-track the payment of the minimum wage in the state since the new National Minimum Wage had been signed into law by President Bola Tinubu.
He added that its implementation would ameliorate the negative effect of the current economic hardship on Oyo State workers, particularly the teachers.
He further listed other demands of teachers to include fast-tracking on the ongoing teachers recruitment process, 2023 and 2024 teachers’ promotion, and payment of 2023/2024 teachers’ leave allowances among others.
Ismail, who described Makinde as a teacher-friendly and education-oriented governor, said his administration had made tremendous achievements in the education sector and urged him not to relent.
In his presentation, the NUT National President, Mr Audu Amba who was represented at the occasion by Mr Isa Shuaib called for adequate funding of the education sector for effective and better education policy formulation in Nigeria.
Amba stated that 23 states have so far implemented the 65 years and 40 years in service retirement age for teachers, urging the remaining 13 states including FCT to do so.
The theme presenter at the event, Mr Olu Abiala, said teachers’ voices were yet to be heard and must be heard to better their living conditions and improve education standards in the country.
Abiala said that teachers in Nigeria were confronting various challenges and must live a dignified life and as well derive satisfaction doing the job for the country to witness desired development.
The highlight of the occasion is the inauguration of the NUT newly-constructed primary section 10-block of classrooms and the presentation of awards.
Among the awardees are Prof Salihu Adelabu, the State’s Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology; Executive Chairman, Oyo State SUBEB, Dr Nureni Adeniran; and Speaker، Oyo State House of Assembly, Debo Ogundoyin.
REPORTED BY:
UGOEZE CHIMA STANLEY
PEO I (I&PR)
Seen by Moses Oyelade.
FIC, IBADAN
