Makinde Approves Payment Of 13th-month Salary To Oyo Workers

Oyo State Governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde has disclosed that civil and public servants in the state will receive the 13th-month salary, marking the seventh time since he came to power.

Governor Makinde disclosed this on Tuesday through his monthly newsletter, where he announced that the payment would be the seventh edition of that gesture.

“For the seventh consecutive time, our administration will be paying the 13th-month salary to all civil and public servants.

“When we made this promise in 2019, many thought it would be a one-off gesture. But year after year, we have kept that promise — not by chance, but by choice,” he said.

Makinde said his administration had, from the beginning, decided to prioritise the people. “From the very beginning, we decided that people would come first — that every worker would be paid what they are due, when it is due. It would be a first-line item from State to Local Government expenditure.”

He added that some governments failed to realise that unpaid salaries do not just hurt families, but also hurt the entire economy. “Every salary paid on time injects liquidity into the local economy — it feeds the markets, sustains businesses, and keeps commerce alive across our State.

“This is why salary payment in Oyo State is not an isolated act of goodwill; it is part of a bigger strategy for economic stability.”

Governor Makinde noted that the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) recently ranked Oyo State third in Nigeria for ease of doing business, recalling that the State had previously consistently ranked low in this index. “This improvement did not happen overnight; it is the result of sustained policies and disciplined governance.”

Celebrating the seventh edition of the gesture, Makinde assured workers that his vision to build an Oyo State whose growth is not tied to one person but to a system that works remains unchanged.

Speaking on his succession plan, the second-term governor disclosed that his preferred successor will be suggested in a few months. “In the next few months, I will suggest my preferred successor to the good people of Oyo State — someone who supports this vision, who will build on what we have done and take Oyo State even further.

“I understand that sometimes, not every decision we make is popular at first glance. But every decision is guided by one principle — the best interests of the people of Oyo State. So, I ask you, once again, to trust the process.

“What we are building in Oyo State and beyond is bigger than any one party or politician. We must stay focused, spend very little time mourning what could have been, and strengthen what has been gained — our institutions, our progress, and our shared commitment to good governance.”

He added that by working together, the state government has built a government that keeps its word, “one that pays what it owes, delivers what it promises, and plans for what lies ahead. Let us keep that faith, and let us keep building.”