Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde has approved a significant pay rise for cleaners at the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology Teaching Hospital in Ogbomoso, lifting their monthly salary from ₦15,000 to ₦80,000. The decision, announced on Friday by his Special Adviser on Media, Sulaimon Olanrewaju, aligns the cleaners' pay with the national minimum wage of ₦70,000, according to a statement released a day after Makinde met with stakeholders at the teaching hospital.
Governor's Direct Response to Cleaners' Appeal
The salary increase came after the cleaners raised their concerns directly with Makinde during his visit to the facility on Thursday, as reported by The Punch. Their appeal prompted an immediate response from the governor, resulting in a raise that more than quintuples their previous pay. The statement reads in part: "Governor Makinde approved an increase in the monthly salary of cleaners at the Teaching Hospital from ₦15,000 to ₦80,000, aligning their pay with the national minimum wage."
Nigeria's current national minimum wage stands at ₦70,000, though some state governments have gone further, with a few paying as much as ₦150,000. Makinde's decision places the cleaners' new salary above the federal benchmark, reflecting a notable adjustment for the hospital staff.
Appeal to Striking Workers and Health Sector Commitment
Beyond the salary announcement, Makinde used the occasion to call on striking hospital workers to allow his administration the chance to address their complaints, emphasising the importance of dialogue in resolving the dispute. The Commissioner for Health, Oluwaserimi Ajetunmobi, commended the governor's commitment to the health sector and told workers that the administration was focused on putting an end to the cycle of industrial action at the hospital.
The governor's appeal comes amid ongoing tensions at the teaching hospital, where workers have been pressing for better conditions. Makinde's move to address the cleaners' pay directly signals a broader effort to stabilise labour relations at the facility, with the health commissioner reinforcing the administration's dedication to resolving outstanding grievances.
Context and Related Developments
In a separate incident reported by Legit.ng, the Senator Sharafadeen Alli Campaign Organisation alleged that Alhaja Tawakalitu Alli was attacked during a medical outreach event in Ibadan on Wednesday. The group claimed campaign convoys of two other APC candidates were also targeted at separate locations across Ibadan on the same day, and called on Governor Seyi Makinde and APM candidate Bimbo Adekanmbi to restrain their supporters and allow peaceful campaigning.
The salary increase for LAUTECH cleaners takes effect as the state continues to navigate health sector challenges, with Makinde urging dialogue and the health commissioner assuring workers of the administration's focus on ending industrial action at the hospital.
