Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde don approve N10,000 monthly transport allowance for all workers for di state to help dem manage di recent fuel price increase wey dey affect transport cost. Di allowance go start from April 2026 and e go run for at least three months, according to announcement wey di state Chairman of Nigeria Labour Congress, Kayode Martins, make for Ibadan on Monday.
Di approval come after formal request from di state NLC council, as workers dey struggle with petrol price wey dey sell between N1,320 and N1,330 per litre for di state. Martins tok say di allowance na to provide relief for workers wey dey face rising transportation costs amid current economic challenges. E add say further details on implementation go come from government authorities soon.
Governor Makinde confirm di development during di kick-off of N1.5 billion YEAP-SAfER disbursement program for Monday. E tok say di relief na for three months for first instance, starting from April, and e dey for all workers including local government staff. Makinde hint say e fit extend di allowance if economic situation no improve.
“I dey happy to announce say all workers for Oyo State and local government starting from April, at least for di first three months, dem go give N10,000 in addition to their monthly salary as petrol/transportation support,” Makinde tok. “All workers, everybody. E na flat rate. Maybe dem go extend am.”
Di governor add say even those wey no dey work with Oyo State government fit benefit from di palliative measures, and e promise say dem go handle am properly to ensure e inclusive. As e dey approach di end of im administration, Makinde say one of di things wey e dey focus on na to ensure continuity of good policies.
Di development come as fuel price for Nigeria don reach record high levels, with Premium Motor Spirit (petrol) dey sell for as high as N1,400 per litre for some areas. Di increase don cause serious hardship for workers wey dey depend on public transport, with many spending significant portion of their salary on transportation alone.
For political front, di announcement come amid ongoing political activities for di state. Makinde, who na Peoples Democratic Party governor, recently meet with other political figures including Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed, Senator Seriake Dickson, former Kano State Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso, and Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi. While some meetings dey frame as part of Eid-el-Fitr celebrations, sources suggest say dem dey involve early planning for 2027 presidential race.
Di PDP dey currently face internal divisions, with two main factions emerging after nearly one year of internal strife. One faction dey backed by Minister Nyesom Wike while di other dey supported by governors including Makinde. Despite di challenges, di governor-backed faction hold convention for November 16 for Ibadan wey dem elect Tanimu Turaki and other key figures to di National Working Committee.
Di transport allowance announcement dey seen as both economic relief measure and political move as Makinde dey position imself ahead of 2027 elections. Di governor dey currently serving im second term and e dey focus on legacy projects and policies wey go benefit di people of Oyo State.
Workers for di state don welcome di announcement with mixed reactions. While many appreciate di immediate relief, others dey question whether N10,000 go enough to cushion di effect of fuel price increase wey don push transport cost up by more than 50% for some routes. Labour leaders promise to continue advocacy for better welfare packages for workers.
Di Oyo State government say dem dey implement multiple measures to address economic challenges, including di YEAP-SAfER program wey aim to support youth entrepreneurship and agricultural development. Di government tok say dem remain committed to improving di welfare of all residents amid current economic realities.
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