Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has disclosed that the salary bill of the state workers is now N7.2 billion monthly up from N4.7 billion in May 2019.
Makinde made this disclosure at the 2023 inter-faith programme held at State Secretariat, Ibadan, on Monday.
Makinde’s update on the state salary bill was against the backdrop of the demand by the state chapter of the Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN) for the implementation of the Consolidated Legislative Salary Structure (CONLESS) in the state.
Explaining the progression, Makinde said though the wage bill, upon assumption of office was N4.7billion, the immediate past administration already increased the wage bill by N1billion when just before its expiration, it increased subvention paid to tertiary institutions from varied percentages of payments to 100 per cent.
He added that the wage bill then increased to over N6 billion with the imperative to effect consequential adjustment that came with implementing the new minimum wage.
Makinde said the wage then shot up to about N7.2 billion owing to the engagement of 5,000 teachers, health officers and the reabsorption of some workers found to have been wrongly dismissed.
He, consequently, sought the understanding of the legislative staff in implementing the CONLESS but assured that the state government will do some percentage implementation of the CONLESS scale but not 100 per cent.
Makinde said: “When I resumed office, the salary bill was about 4.7 billion. On the eve of the departure of the immediate past administration, they took subvention paid to tertiary institutions to 100 percent but didn’t wait to pay it. They made the pronouncement and left. That singular act added N1 billion to the wage bill of Oyo State and took it to N5.7 billion. But, God helped us and we started paying it.
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“Then we had issue of minimum wage and consequential adjustment. We sat down with labour leaders and reached an alignment and we have been implementing. That took the salary bill to over N6 billion. Then we employed more people and, as of today, the wage bill of Oyo State is about N7.2 billion.”
Addressing the issue of unremitted deductions raised by the chairman of state chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Mr Martins Kayode, the state governor directed the payment of two out of five deductions.
Makinde said: “The issue of deduction will be addressed within days. I met with Commissioner of finance for explanation on those deductions. “Under Omituntun 2.0, we are talking about sustainable development. So, we are finding a solution that will be sustainable.
“I understand there are about five deductions outstanding, two will be paid immediately.”
Earlier, state Head of Service, Mrs Ololade Agboola said it was remarkable that in 44 months of the Makinde administration, no state worker was retrenched.
In their various sermons, Aderemi Oladejo, Alhaji Bello Rufai and Bishop David Moradeyo harped on people being guided by the fear of God and repaying good deeds.
The event saw remarks from Speaker of the state Assembly, Honourable Adebo Ogundoyin; chairman, Trade Union Congress (TUC), Mr Bosun Olabiyi, among others.
