Oyo State has sets the pace with highest pensioners’ Pay Nationwide gaining attention across Nigeria as a trailblazer in pension payment and workers welfare.
Thanks to the leadership of Governor Seyi Makinde.
Makinde’s administration has paid the highest amount of gratuity to retirees nationwide honoring its financial obligations to pensioners.
This was contained in a press release signed by Prince Dotun Oyelade, the Honourable Commissioner for Information, Oyo State
30th May, 2025.
The Oyo State Government is committed to supporting its pensioners, allocating over ₦1 billion every month towards their gratuities. According to Prince Dotun Oyelade, the Commissioner for Information, pensioners in Oyo State have the highest earnings among all states in Nigeria.
Oyelade emphasized that since taking office in 2019, Governor Seyi Makinde has consistently paid pensions and gratuities without delay. “Pensioners in Oyo State are the envy of their colleagues in all other states,” he remarked. “They receive equal welfare attention from the Governor as active civil servants and benefit from pension and wage increases that match those of their active counterparts.”
Significantly, the Commissioner noted that Governor Makinde has incorporated a 33% pension increment that should have been implemented since 2010, as well as the 2019 consequential adjustment, which previously excluded pensioners. Currently, no pensioner in Oyo State earns less than ₦25,000, a considerable increase from the meager amounts—sometimes as low as ₦1,000—many received under past administrations.
Moreover, pension payments have seen remarkable improvements. Unlike the delays experienced in previous years, pensioners’ salaries are now paid on the same day as over 130,000 government workers. In recognition of Oyo State’s favorable treatment of its workforce, the Federal Bureau of Statistics (NBC) classified the state as the most worker-friendly in September last year.
Prince Oyelade highlighted that as of now, Governor Makinde has dedicated ₦500 million monthly to settle gratuities owed from previous administrations, and another ₦500 million for the gratuities of those who retired under his administration since 2019. He stated, “Governor Makinde’s era has brought a complete end to the 30% pension payments that pensioners endured under previous administrations.”
Looking ahead, the Commissioner expressed confidence that, all things being equal, the Governor will eliminate the backlog of gratuities that amassed to over ₦200 billion before the conclusion of his tenure.