The Oyo State House of Assembly, in a bid to reflect current economic realities and safeguard the wellbeing of its citizens, has passed two critical motions during Tuesday’s plenary session; one advocating an upward review of the Duty Tour Allowance (DTA) for civil and public servants, and another calling for urgent flood risk mitigation ahead of the rainy season.
The first motion, jointly sponsored by Honorables Sanjo Adedoyin Ogbomoso south and Olalekan Abiola, emphasized the pressing need to update the DTA structure for the state’s workforce.
Westernmirror.com.ng reports that the current DTA, last reviewed in 2008, has become inadequate due to rising inflation and changing economic conditions.
According to the motion: “The economic landscape has changed drastically over the last decade. It is no longer tenable to expect public servants to carry out official duties on allowances fixed over 15 years ago.”
The lawmakers noted that the National Council on Establishment introduced a revised DTA structure at the federal level in 2024, which has already been adopted by many states.
The Assembly expressed concern that failing to act could lead to low morale, diminished productivity, and even corruption within the state civil service.
“The disparity between the reality of field assignments and the current allowance system has led to frustration and demotivation among staff,” Hon. Abiola said.
The motion resolved to appeal to Governor Seyi Makinde to approve a comprehensive upward review of the DTA across all cadres of civil and public servants in the state.
The Assembly also urged the Oyo State House of Assembly Service Commission to align with the National Assembly’s DTA table for legislative and political staff.
Also, the motion mandated the House Committee on Establishments and Training to engage relevant stakeholders in developing a harmonized and sustainable DTA framework for the state.
In another development, the House passed a motion sponsored by Hon. Olusola Owolabi (Ibadan North East 2), calling for intensified flood prevention efforts amid forecasts of heavy rains across Oyo State.
Citing data from the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA), Owolabi warned of the threat posed to over 1,200 communities in 176 Local Government Areas nationwide, including Oyo State. He urged a swift response to the risk.
“Flooding is a recurring disaster, but it is also a preventable one,” Owolabi remarked. “We must move beyond general warnings and start taking deliberate steps to protect the vulnerable communities already identified by NIHSA.”
The House tasked the Oyo State Flood Management and Control Agency to begin immediate community-based sensitization campaigns in partnership with the Ministries of Environment, Information and Orientation, and Local Government Authorities.
The campaign according to the house, will include public awareness efforts, particularly in remote and riverine areas.
The Assembly further urged the agency to prioritize the maintenance of existing flood infrastructure, construct new control projects in high-risk areas, and actively involve community leaders, religious groups, and local associations in outreach initiatives.
In a more grassroots-oriented measure, the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters was directed to ensure that Local Government Chairmen deploy motorbikes equipped with megaphones to deliver flood risk warnings and awareness messages to hard-to-reach communities.
Other recommendations included clearing blocked water channels and drainage paths, identifying vulnerable households, and developing emergency evacuation plans at the community level.
The Ministry of Information and Orientation was also called upon to rally the general public to support flood mitigation efforts, report blocked waterways, and stop indiscriminate waste disposal.
“These measures, if executed effectively, could significantly reduce the impact of the rainy season. We must act now, or we will be forced to react under more desperate circumstances,” Owolabi said.