The Oyo State Commissioner for Information, Prince Dotun Oyelade, has confirmed the report that since last year Oyo State has been the best place to live in Nigeria based on quality of life, functional infrastructure, service delivery and security.
The Commissioner was reacting to a report by the State Performance Index (pSPI), handled by a consultancy firm.
He said, “Obviously, the State’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), which has improved dramatically in the past few years, is being put to good and productive use for the benefit of the citizenry. While the past administration struggled to reach the ₦15 billion mark annually, the Seyi Makinde administration has increased IGR to ₦65 billion in 2024, and as at July this year, it has increased to ₦58 billion just ₦7 billion short of the 2024 total revenue gathered.”
The Commissioner said the implication of these figures is that Oyo State will beat its own record by the end of this year with a target close to ₦100 billion, making it sit comfortably as a leading financial hub in the country.
The Commissioner said that unlike most sub-nationals and past administrations in Oyo State, IGR collection has been seamless and has not increased the burden on investors. Rather, it has opened up the economy through agribusiness, infrastructure and tourism. This expansion of the economy, coupled with the ripple effect of consistent payment of ₦14 5billion to over 130,000 workers monthly, has had a salutary effect on the increasing IGR of the state. The Commissioner revealed that this month of September ₦15.4 billion was paid as salaries instead of the usual ₦14.5 billion.
Another area of concentration of this administration is healthcare. According to the Commissioner, 264 primary healthcare centres have been upgraded and over 3,900 professionals recruited, which has significantly restored the healthcare system.
The Commissioner recalled that during a courtesy call at the Governor’s Office two weeks ago, the UNICEF Country Representative, Celine Lafocriere, said that UNICEF has had more engagements with Oyo State than any other state in Nigeria in the past two years.
On education, Prince Oyelade said that the staff strength in the primary schools has increased by 100 per cent from 13,730 in 2019 to 26,436 in 2025, and over 10,500 teaching and non-teaching staff have been employed to improve academic performance and living standards of youths.
The Commissioner stated further that Governor Makinde’s reforms in education have led to the construction of 60 model schools, 289 new classroom blocks, renovation of 229 others and reintegration of over 60,000 out of school children.
Additionally, four new educational zones have been created, including administrative structures, while 2,000 teachers have been absorbed into TESCOM to further strengthen efficiency.
Packaged by Adekunle Adegboyega
