…Says Oyo govt spends N2bn monthly on gratuities
The Oyo State Commissioner for Establishments and Training, Professor Salihu AbdulWaheed Adelabu, has reiterated the commitment of Governor ‘Seyi Makinde’s administration to enhancing efficiency, safeguarding industrial harmony, and prioritising the welfare of both serving and retired civil and public servants.
Speaking on Monday during the Omituntun 2.0 Inter-Ministerial Briefing, Prof. Adelabu stated that the state government has implemented various initiatives aimed at boosting service delivery, strengthening institutional capacity, and advancing professionalism within the workforce.
He noted that the state has significantly increased gratuity payments, from ₦206 million monthly in 2019 to ₦1 billion in May 2025, with an additional ₦1 billion paid to retirees in primary schools and local governments. According to him, more than ₦13 billion has been disbursed to 7,250 retirees in the mainstream civil service and among secondary school teachers since 2019.
On human capital development, Prof. Adelabu revealed that the state would adopt the International Standards Organisation (ISO) management model to improve transparency and efficiency, alongside developing a comprehensive database to identify skill gaps and direct training resources accordingly.
He further stated that Governor Makinde has assured that all pension debts would be cleared before the end of his current tenure in 2027.
“A key focus of our ministry is preserving industrial harmony. We serve as a link between the government and labour unions, resolving disputes, addressing grievances, and ensuring timely attention to matters such as union dues and allowances. This has helped maintain a stable and peaceful work environment,” he said.
Highlighting administrative reforms, Prof. Adelabu disclosed that the Ministry scrapped the ₦4,000 retirement form fee in December 2024 and transitioned from cheque-based to electronic payment systems by July 2024. Digitisation of retirement documentation has also commenced to fast-track entitlements processing.
To enhance pension administration, 32 Pension Desk Officers were trained in 2023, while retirees with gratuities under ₦1 million have been prioritised for payment.
He also said the Ministry continues to implement the Ayida Recommendations of 1994, managing Centrally Deployed Cadres (CDCs) which include Executive Officers, Confidential Secretaries, Stores Officers, Data Processing Officers and Programme Officers. All eligible officers for the 2023 and 2024 promotion exercises have received their letters, he confirmed.
In July 2024, the state government approved the professionalisation of the Human Resources function, including the renaming of Information Officer roles to Information and Public Relations Officers (GL. 08–17) and Executive Officers (Information and Public Relations) on GL. 06–14. The Environmental Health Superintendent Cadre was also re-designated as the Environmental Health Technologist Cadre in February 2025.
Further reforms include homegrown schemes of service enabling primary school teachers to rise to grade level 17, as well as updated schemes for the Road Traffic Officer Cadre to allow for more specialised roles.
Regarding recruitment, the Commissioner said the Ministry has facilitated the employment of junior staff across critical MDAs, such as Justice, Agriculture, Lands, Youth Development, and the Library Board. Recruited roles include Clerical Officers, Confidential Secretaries, Agricultural Technologists, Technical Officers, Library Assistants, and Watchmen, helping to maintain a steady inflow of new talent.
He said career progression remains a priority, with regular confirmation and promotion examinations sustained. In 2023, 58 officers participated in such exams; 10 passed promotions, while 48 were confirmed. The number of candidates rose to 82 in 2024, demonstrating increased staff engagement in professional development.
The Commissioner added that the Ministry continues to process in-service training applications, study leave without pay, and internship placements to bridge practical and academic learning.
“To bolster human capital planning, we have begun building a manpower and training needs database across the state’s workforce to help identify skill gaps and better allocate training resources,” he said.
On staff welfare, Prof. Adelabu said a total of ₦340,016,982.28 was paid in salaries between May 2023 and May 2025, while ₦11,363,169.23 was disbursed as leave bonuses, reflecting the administration’s consistent commitment to a motivated and efficient workforce.
He affirmed, “The Ministry of Establishments and Training remains firmly dedicated to promoting efficiency, maintaining harmony within the workforce, and ensuring that serving and retired officers are treated with dignity.”
He praised the leadership of trade unions in Oyo State for their cooperation and commitment to dialogue, urging them to remain engaged through consultation as the state moves towards the next political season.
