The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Oyo State Council, has affirmed the state’s emergence as the fourth best in Nigeria in terms of workers’ welfare, commending Governor Seyi Makinde for what it described as sustained pro-worker policies and reforms.
The commendation came as the state government disclosed that it now expends over ₦18 billion monthly on workers’ salaries, underscoring its commitment to labour welfare and economic stability.
Speaking during a courtesy visit to the NLC Secretariat in Ibadan to mark the 2026 Workers’ Day celebration, the Commissioner for Information, Dotun Oyelade, described the Oyo NLC as one of the most progressive and forward-looking labour unions in recent history.
Oyelade, who led the ministry’s management team on the visit, reflected on his long-standing engagement with labour movement.
He recalled his experience as a reporter during the historic 1978 formation of the NLC in Ibadan, where Hassan Sunmonu emerged as the pioneer president.
According to him, the relationship between the Oyo State Government and organised labour has reached an unprecedented level of harmony, particularly since 1999.
He noted further that the current leadership of the union stands out in fostering mutual understanding and cooperation.
He reiterated that Governor Makinde had, upon assumption of office in 2019, pledged to ensure prompt payment of salaries on or before the 25th of every month, a promise he said was initially met with doubt.
“Eighty-four months after that commitment, the governor has not only sustained prompt salary payments but has also introduced a 13th-month salary and implemented three salary increases, despite a significant expansion of the workforce,” Oyelade said.
He disclosed that the state’s workforce has grown to over 130,000 employees, making it the largest in the South-West, as well as across the South-East and South-South regions.
He added that the government’s internally generated revenue has risen substantially, supporting infrastructure development and social interventions.
In his remarks, the Oyo State NLC Chairman, Kayode Martins, said the Makinde administration had taken deliberate steps to improve workers’ welfare and restore dignity to retirees through structured gratuity payments and the gradual clearance of arrears.
Martins noted that the state government had increased gratuity provisions from ₦1 billion to ₦3 billion annually, following engagements with labour unions, to ensure the settlement of outstanding obligations.
He added that the administration had also committed to clearing any remaining backlog of gratuities before May 2027, a move he said has significantly eased hardship among retirees and boosted confidence among serving workers.
The NLC chairman further commended the government for reabsorbing disengaged workers, approving backlog promotions, and implementing a minimum wage above the federal benchmark.
“Before these reforms, Oyo State ranked 32nd in Nigeria on key workers’ welfare indicators.
“Today, the state has risen to fourth position following the implementation of the new minimum wage and other labour-friendly policies,” Martins stated.
He described the simultaneous implementation of wage increases and pension reforms as a landmark achievement in labour relations, noting that it has improved productivity and reinforced workers’ commitment to service delivery.
The NLC reaffirmed its continued support for the Makinde administration, pledging sustained collaboration in advancing the welfare of workers in the state.