Ibadan – The Governor of Oyo State, Engr Seyi Makinde has restated his government’s commitment to paying the agreed National Minimum wage to workers in the state.
The Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Pastor Sulaimon Olanrewaju revealed this while featuring on The Democracy Day edition of The Newsmen On Petals 102.3 fm Ibadan with Adebisi Ogunjimi.
Olanrewaju said the state is already paying the minimum wage of N30,000 and a wage award of N25,000, noting that any addition will not be difficult for the government to implement.
This he said is born out of the Governor’s desire to improve the lives of people across the state.
Olanrewaju also assured the people of the Governor’s commitment to the promise he made during the Swearing-in ceremony for his second term in office on May 29, 2023.
The Governor had in his speech after taking the oath of office promised to put the interests of the people first in all his activities and decision making.
‘I am sure you’re familiar with the old state of Agodi and you know how Agodi is now. Apart from the beauty that has come to that place, the Governor effectively without any force, took the people away from the streets by providing an alternative. He built stalls and gave them free of charge to 700 erstwhile street traders. This Governor is determined to improve the lives of everyone in the state, irrespective of their religion, zone or orientation’, Olanrewaju said.
Speaking on the general belief that most second-term Governors do not have the intention for any form of performance in the office, Olanrewaju said ‘In the first four years, a total of 150km of roads were commissioned and I am telling you authoritatively that between May 29, 2023, and today, a total of 150km of roads have also been commissioned. That is, what he was able to accomplish in four years, he has accomplished in one year. That means this year will be a leap season for the people of the state, adding that ‘those who think this Governor is an audio Governor should have a rethink’.
On Education, the CPS recalled that the payment of fees by students in public schools was scrapped and, this, he noted had a monumental impact on the lives of those concerned.
According to him, Oyo state had the highest number of out-of-school children in the Southwest before 2019 but now has the least.
‘That intervention took a minimum of 60,000 students out of the streets’, he added.
‘Between 2019 and now, this government has renovated 700 classrooms across the state and a minimum of 50 schools across the state’, Olanrewaju stated further.
He also revealed that the GSM-led government employed 5,000 teachers during the first term adding that plans are on to employ an additional 7,000.
