Government workers in Oyo State will begin receiving the newly agreed N80,000 minimum wage from January 2025.
The announcement was made on Tuesday, December 17, by the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Prince Dotun Oyelade, following the successful conclusion of discussions between the state government and organised labour.
According to the statement, the Oyo State government and labour unions reached a consensus on the new wage structure, which includes consequential adjustments.
The agreement was signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Olanike Adeyemo, and the Head of Service, Mrs. Olubunmi Oni, representing the government.
Kayode Martins of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Bosun Olabiyi of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), along with other labour leaders, signed on behalf of the unions.
Although the new minimum wage structure was initially agreed to take effect from July 1, 2024, the financial implementation will begin on January 1, 2025.
The commissioner also noted that workers who retire between July 1 and December 31, 2024, will have their retirement benefits calculated based on the new wage structure.
The statement further called on all ministries and extra-ministerial departments in the state to intensify efforts in boosting the state’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), in order to improve the state’s fiscal standing.
Oyo State currently spends over N6 billion monthly on salaries and wages, which adds up to more than N77 billion annually, making it one of the top three employers of labour in Nigeria. With the new minimum wage, government workers can look forward to starting 2025 with a significant increase in their pay.
In addition, workers can expect to receive the traditional 13th-month salary at the end of 2024, a benefit they have enjoyed under Governor Seyi Makinde’s administration since 2019.
This wage adjustment highlights the state government’s commitment to improving the welfare of its workers and strengthening its economy through increased revenue generation.
