By Iyabo Adebisi
Oyo State Governor, Engineer Seyi Makinde has stated that his administration would continue to serve the people of the state and cater to the welfare of workers across different sectors.
He stated this in Ogbomoso while meeting with professional bodies at the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology Teaching Hospital, Ogbomoso, over the ongoing industrial action by the bodies.
Governor Makinde, after listening to the demands of representatives of different bodies at the teaching hospital, announced immediate measures aimed at addressing the situation, including the plan to immediately constitute a Governing Council for the hospital, approval of a monthly stipend of ₦80,000 for 65 non-staff security personnel working at the hospital while instructing that they should be integrated into the hospital’s system as adhoc staff.
The governor also announced an increase in the monthly subvention to the hospital by N35m to ease operational challenges.
Other measures announced by the governor included the approval of the payment of accumulated promotion arrears totaling ₦219 million, which is to be disbursed in three equal installments in October, November, and December 2025, and a promise to offset the arrears of the new minimum wage, covering the period from January to August 2025, in three tranches, also payable from October to December 2025.
The governor equally highlighted steps that the government would take to bring about long-term resolutions of the crisis and bring lasting solutions to the institution’s challenges, adding that the LAUTECH Teaching Hospital Annex in Oyo would be completed before the end of his administration in 2027.
He stated that some demands involving the review of salary structures would be addressed by the Governing Council of the hospital once it is put in place, adding that the demands raised by students of Nursing would also be addressed.
He noted, however, that workers must also recognise the paramount need to develop the infrastructure of the state and ensure that it is liveable for residents and the coming generations, hence the need for those in government to manage resources with a view to ensuring a balance in the discharge of their responsibilities.
“I want to call your attention to something very important. This is extremely important. It is not only here at LAUTECH Teaching Hospital; it is something that Nigeria, as a country, is still struggling with. Yes, welfare, looking after your people, that is the work of your government. You put people in government so that they can look after you; so that they can ensure that people’s welfare is well taken care of.
“But the government must be able to manage your resources in such a way that you are not seeing just your generation; that you are not seeing just the next election, but you can see to the welfare of the next generation.”
The governor added, “As an administration, we have dared to be different. We know that we have to stimulate economic activities such that a lot of people, by just having infrastructure in place, can take themselves out of poverty. We have limited resources as a government, but we have been developing our infrastructure.
“As an administration, we will look at those requests and some of them will be addressed here. But, when you are mining your data, kindly note that liveability is a big issue for me. Let us look at what we can do, but having a livable environment, an environment where you can feel safe and secure, is also an indispensable function that the government must perform. As an administration, we have been looking at almost all sides.”
Earlier, the Commissioner for Health, Dr Oluwaserimi Ajetunmobi, said Governor Makinde’s desire to ensure that all residents stay healthy was behind his decision to visit LAUTECH Teaching Hospital to address the challenges facing the institution.
In his speech, the Acting Chief Medical Director of the hospital, Professor Olawale Olakulehin, expressed gratitude to the governor for his visit and for increasing subvention to the hospital, describing him as a listening governor and an embodiment of kindness, compassion and love for the institution.
In their separate remarks, representatives of professional bodies and students such as the Joint Health Sector Union, JOHESU; Nurses and Midwives; Nursing and Medical students, appreciated Governor Makinde’s efforts over the institution appealing to him to improve welfare and infrastructure in the hospital.
Governor Makinde, who was later at the palace of the Soun of Ogbomoso, announced that his administration would soon embark on the reconstruction of inner roads of the town.
The Soun of Ogbomoso, Oba Ghandi Olaoye had lauded the governor for his administrative style, saying he has done so many things to move the state forward and has made governance look easy.
