Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, has disclosed that his administration has committed well over N90 billion to the welfare of workers and pensioners in Ekiti State since assuming office in October 2022, underscoring what he described as an unprecedented investment in the public service.
Speaking at the 2026 May Day celebration held at the Ekiti Parapo Pavilion in Ado-Ekiti on Friday, the governor gave a detailed breakdown of expenditures covering pensions, gratuities, housing support, contributory pension payments, and staff incentives, positioning his government as one of the most worker-friendly in the state’s history.
The May Day celebration brought together workers across various sectors, labour leaders, and government officials in a show of solidarity and recognition of the contributions of the workforce to the state’s development.
A significant portion of the spending, according to Oyebanji, went into clearing longstanding pension liabilities and ensuring regular payments.
He revealed that over N30.7 billion and N5.89 billion had been paid as pensions and gratuities to local government retirees, while N31.6 billion was disbursed as pensions to retired state workers.
In addition, more than N10 billion was used to offset gratuity arrears between October 2022 and March 2026.
The governor further noted that his administration cleared N2.69 billion in inherited pension arrears dating from 2018, while also committing N2.16 billion as employer contributions under the contributory pension scheme for over 16,000 workers.
Beyond pensions, Oyebanji highlighted substantial investments in workers’ welfare through housing and loan schemes.
He disclosed that N1.36 billion had been committed to land and housing support for over 12,000 civil servants, alongside N68.03 million in loans to primary school teachers.
The administration also spent heavily on staff motivation and recognition. According to the governor, a total of N42.5 million was awarded to 89 civil servants in 2024, while N60.25 million was distributed to 84 workers in 2025 under the public service performance award scheme.
Teachers were not left out, with N96.39 million awarded to 144 educators between 2023 and 2025.
Oyebanji emphasised that these financial commitments were complemented by structural reforms, including prompt salary payments, full implementation of the N70,000 minimum wage, clearance of promotion backlogs, and salary parity for health workers across different levels of care.
He added that the government has also maintained a monthly gratuity payment structure and increased subventions to state institutions by over 140 per cent, further strengthening the financial backbone of the public sector.
The governor credited the investments for the sustained industrial harmony in the state, noting that Ekiti has not experienced any strike action since he assumed office.
While reaffirming his administration’s commitment to workers’ welfare, Oyebanji used the occasion to solicit workers’ support for his re-election bid in the June 20, 2026 governorship poll, calling on them to support his candidacy and that of the ruling party.
He also urged support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election in 2027, citing the Federal Government’s support for Ekiti State.
“As a government, we have demonstrated our commitment to your welfare through tangible actions and financial investments. We will continue to prioritise your wellbeing and build on these achievements,” the governor said.
Speaking, the state chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Kolapo Olatunde, and his counterpart in the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Dr Omotola Farotimi, commended the governor for his commitment and support for workers’ welfare over the past three years.
The union leaders explained that the workforce has experienced unprecedented investment from the government, especially in the prompt payment of salaries and the consequential adjustments arising from the new minimum wage arrangements.
They declared their readiness to sustain peace and industrial harmony in the state by mobilising support for the governor’s re-election in the June 20 governorship election.
The NLC and TUC leaders advocated urgent steps by the Federal Government to address the troubling security challenges across the country and to ensure that economic reforms have both immediate and long-term impact on citizens, especially at the grassroots.
Credit: tribuneonlingng.com
