Seyi Makinde: Paying N70,000 minimum wage for Oyo workers won’t be too challenging.

The Oyo state government is confident that the recently approved N70,000 minimum wage by the federal government will not be too challenging to implement.

Sulaimon Olanrewaju, the chief press secretary to Governor Seyi Makinde, confirmed this to The Nation on Friday, July 19.

Olanrewaju recalled that during the 2024 Workers Day celebration, the governor had pledged to pay whatever the national minimum wage would be set at.

He emphasised that the governor’s promise remains firm and noted that the state currently pays a minimum wage of N30,000 plus a N25,000 wage award, totaling N55,000 without any outstanding payments.

He concluded that increasing the payment from N55,000 to N70,000 would not be too difficult for the state government.

“That promise stands. So, Oyo will pay the new minimum wage.

“The current minimum wage in Oyo is N30,000 but since October 2023 the state has been paying N25,000 wage award.

“This means the state has been paying N55,000 minimum wage since October last year without owing a single month. Transiting from N55,000 to N70,000 will not be too herculean.”