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N24bn monthly salaries drive Oyo’s economic stability – Makinde assures
Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, said his administration has ensured economic stability in the state through the monthly payment of about N24 billion in salaries to state and local government workers.
Makinde made this known on Sunday when a delegation of Muslim clerics, traditional rulers, and political officeholders visited his Ikolaba, Ibadan, residence after the Eid-el-Fitri prayers at the Agodi Eid Ground.
According to a statement by his media adviser, Sulaimon Olanrewaju, the governor said his government’s commitment to economic expansion had attracted private sector investments to the state.
The governor said, “My prayer has always been that this state will never go back to those periods, because if we have patience, all the things we want will be achieved.
“One of those things we desire is economic stability in our state. Now, every four weeks, N24 billion gets into the economy of Oyo State through workers’ salaries. The wage bill of the state is now around N14 billion, while that of the local government is about N10 billion.
“Similarly, on the private sector side, a lot of people are now comfortable coming and investing in this state, and we have seen quite a lot of investments.
Yesterday, we were at the Ijaiye Farm Settlement because of the Farmers’ Wholesale Market that is coming in there. I went there to inspect the place, and you will be surprised that in that settlement, we have 27,000 hectares of land. We have asked them to carve out just 3,000 hectares out of the 27,000 for that project.”
He urged residents to sustain the peace and unity in the state, noting that development thrives in a stable environment.
He stated, “Let me also use the opportunity to say one or two things. When we cast our minds back to 2007, a lot of things have happened since then. We can all see here how our people from different political parties went for the prayer at the Eid Ground, and everyone came together and came to greet me as the governor.
“We used to have the opposite of this in this state back then. You would hear people say before Eid that this one should not come and that one should not come.
“We passed through those periods and we saw the result and effects and we can compare them with what is obtained now. When we have an atmosphere of unity and live in peace with ourselves, there will be development and progress. That is what we are witnessing in the state today.”
The delegation was led by the Deputy Governor, Bayo Lawal, and included the Otun Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, Senator representing Oyo South, Chief Sharafadeen Alli, former Deputy Governor and the Peoples Democratic Party Deputy National Chairman, Taofeek Arapaja, and Kamil Oloso, among others.
The governor congratulated the Muslim Ummah on witnessing the end of Ramadan and the Eid-el-Fitri 2025.
He lauded them for their prayers, patriotism and commitment to the state as well as their support for his government, noting that the economic stability and developments being witnessed in the state were a result of the peace and harmonious coexistence among residents of the state.
Makinde urged all residents to work hard to sustain the atmosphere, adding that every good thing they desire for the state is tied to the existence of peace and harmony in the state.
“Let me also say this: political office holders across the country should do their best to improve things because it has been a difficult and challenging period for the people, but as they say, tough times don’t last, only tough people do,” he added.
Delivering the message of the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Owolabi Olakulehin, the Otun Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Ladoja, called for patience among the people of the state and urged them to remain steadfast and hopeful in the face of challenges.
Mr. Sam Olumekun has taken over at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as Acting Chairman.
Olumekun is INEC’s National Commissioner in charge of Information and Voter Education.
He performed his first duties today, receiving a high-level delegation of the Labour Party (LP) at the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja with other National Commissioners in attendance.
The delegation was led by Abia State Governor Dr. Alex Otti, who visited the Commission to discuss key developments within the Labour Party.
It was gathered that both parties engaged in discussions centered on enhancing collaboration and reinforcing democratic values.
During the visit, Governor Otti formally presented a Certified True Copy of the recent Supreme Court judgment concerning the party’s leadership.
He noted that the meeting was aimed at fostering clarity, mutual understanding, and institutional alignment regarding the Labour Party’s current structure.
Mr. Olumekun, the Acting INEC Chairman, reaffirmed the Commission’s unwavering commitment to neutrality, transparency, and the rule of law in the discharge of its constitutional responsibilities.
Recall that a viral WhatsApp message had indicated that Prof. Mahmood was sacked by President Bola Tinubu and replaced with one Prof. Bashiru Olamilekan.
“INEC Chairman Prof. Mahmud Yakubu has been replaced with Prof. Bashiru Olamilekan by President Tinubu,” the message, which had no attribution, read. However, both INEC and the Presidency debunked the widespread report.
Yakubu, who is rounding off his second tenure in office, is expected to exit the system towards the end of this year.
The process of appointing an INEC chairman is the President nominating a candidate and forwarding his particulars to the Department of State Services (DSS) for profiling.
After such screening, the President, thereafter, takes the name to the National Council of State for its advisory review.
Based on the outcome, the President sends the name to the Senate for screening and confirmation.
Crude oil prices have dropped below $57, following a previous rate of $59.78.
This decline coincides with the imposition of tariffs on several countries by US President Donald Trump.
A report from West Texas Intermediate attributes this price slump to consistent 6% reductions observed last week.
JPMorgan Chase & Co has warned that these tariffs could likely push both the US and global economies into a recession this year.
The financial institution explained that the tariffs, set to take effect this week, are expected to have widespread economic repercussions.
Market analysts and the business community have expressed concerns about the negative implications of these measures, predicting a slowdown in economic activities and a subsequent decline in oil demand.
The military government of Niger has continued its efforts to cut ties with France.
In its latest move, it has officially designated Hausa as the country’s new national language.
Previously, French had served as the central and official language of the nation.
This new development was announced in a charter released on March 31 and published in a special edition of the government’s official journal.
According to the document, the national language is Hausa,” while “the working languages are English and French.”
Before this announcement, Hausa was already widely spoken in Niger, particularly in regions such as Zinder, Maradi, and Tahoua.
Out of the country’s estimated population of 26 million, the vast majority speak and understand Hausa.
In contrast, only around three million people— roughly 13 percent — can speak French.
The new charter also recognises nine other local languages, including Zarma-Songhay, Fula, Kanuri, Gourmanche, and Arabic, as “spoken languages of Niger.”
Additionally, the government has withdrawn from the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie, a group similar to the Commonwealth that supports French-speaking nations.
In January, French President Emmanuel Macron criticised African leaders for what he described as a lack of gratitude.
Speaking about developments in the region, Macron said: “We had a relationship based on security — it was twofold. On one hand, it was our commitment to fighting terrorism since 2013. We were right, though I think someone forgot to say thank you. It’s okay, it will come with time.
“Ungratefulness, I know too well, is a disease that cannot be transmitted to men. But I say this for all African heads of state who have lacked courage in the face of public opinion.”
“None of them would be sovereign countries today if the French army hadn’t been deployed in the region. My heart goes out to all our soldiers, some of whom have given their lives and fought for years.”
“We did the right thing. We left because there were coups. We were there at the request of sovereign states who asked France to come.”
“From the moment there were coups and the people stated their objectives no longer involved fighting terrorism — or were unclear— France no longer had a place there.”
It’s worth recalling that in December 2023, Niger Republic officially expelled French troops from the country.
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