Makinde Unveils ₦10,000 Monthly Wage Boost for Oyo Workers Amid Fuel Price Surge

Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has approved a ₦10,000 monthly salary top-up for civil servants and local government workers as part of an emergency measure to cushion the impact of rising petrol prices.

The intervention, announced in a statement on Monday, will run for an initial period of three months, beginning in April 2026. It is expected to benefit thousands of public sector employees across ministries, departments, agencies, and all 33 local government areas in the state.

The move comes in response to the sharp increase in the price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) following the nationwide removal of fuel subsidies, which has significantly raised transportation costs and overall living expenses.

According to the state government, the temporary wage boost is designed to ease the financial burden on workers, particularly those who depend on daily commuting.

“The Governor has approved this temporary salary top-up specifically to cushion the effect of the petrol price increase on our dedicated workforce,” the statement read, adding that the measure is not a permanent salary adjustment but a targeted relief effort.

The administration noted that the situation will be reviewed at the end of the three-month period in June 2026, with the possibility of extending the support or introducing alternative interventions depending on economic conditions.

Labour groups, including the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress in Oyo State, have reacted positively, describing the initiative as timely in the face of mounting cost-of-living pressures.

The salary top-up adds to a series of worker-focused policies implemented by the Makinde administration, including regular salary payments, clearance of pension arrears, and other welfare programmes.

With inflation and fuel costs continuing to strain household incomes nationwide, similar relief measures are increasingly being adopted by state governments to support public sector workers.