Oyo hits seventh straight 13th-month salary milestone as Makinde vows system-driven succession
Seyi Makinde
Abdullateef Fowewe
Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde has announced that his administration will pay the 13th-month salary to all civil and public servants for the seventh consecutive year, framing it as a testament to “consistency and commitment.”
In a direct message shared with Daily Economy on Tuesday, Makinde reflected on the symbolic power of the number seven, drawing parallels to biblical and natural phenomena.
“They say the number seven represents completeness, perfection, and wisdom in various contexts. We hear of things like the seven days of creation, and the seven colours of the rainbow, and now in Oyo State we are celebrating seven times of consistency and commitment,” he wrote.
Makinde emphasised that the payment, first promised in 2019, has become a deliberate policy rather than a one-off gesture.
“When we made this promise in 2019, many thought it would be a one-off gesture. But year after year, we have kept that promise — not by chance, but by choice,” he stated.
He credited the initiative to a core principle of prioritisation, with salaries as a “first-line item from State to Local Government expenditure.”
The governor linked timely payments to broader economic health, arguing, “What some governments fail to realise is that unpaid salaries do not just hurt families; it hurts the entire economy. Every salary paid on time injects liquidity into the local economy — it feeds the markets, sustains businesses, and keeps commerce alive across our State.”
Makinde highlighted recent gains, including Oyo State’s number 3 ranking by the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) for ease of doing business—a sharp rise from its historically low positions. He positioned the salary tradition as “part of a bigger strategy for economic stability.”
Looking ahead, the governor teased a leadership transition, pledging to nominate a successor in the coming months who aligns with his vision.
“As we celebrate this seventh time of keeping faith with our workers and our people, I want to assure you that the vision remains the same — to build an Oyo State whose growth is not tied to one person but to a system that works. In the next few months, I will suggest my preferred successor to the good people of Oyo State — someone who supports this vision, who will build on what we have done and take Oyo State even further,” he added.
Makinde urged residents to “trust the process,” stressing that Oyo’s progress transcends party lines.
“What we are building in Oyo State and beyond is bigger than any one party or politician. We must stay focused, spend very little time mourning what could have been, and strengthen what has been gained — our institutions, our progress, and our shared commitment to good governance.”
