COVID-19: Oyo senior political appointees, lawmakers take pay cut

To mitigate the economic effect of COVID-19, Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, announced Friday a 50 per cent cut in salaries of senior political appointees.

He noted that the state House of Assembly had also agreed to a monthly allocation cut of 30 per cent.

He disclosed this while addressing workers at a Workers’ Day event at the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Secretariat in Ibadan, the state capital.

“The next couple of months are going to be difficult ones but we are working hard to mitigate the shocks to our economy.

“Already, we have secured the cooperation of the legislature to take a 30 per cent cut to their monthly allocation while senior government appointees take 50 per cent pay cut. This is because we feel the economic safety of the workforce must be prioritized.

He said his administration has also approved the second phase of the Light Up state project – a N29 billion project.

“Let me start by commending every worker in Oyo State as we fight the COVID-19 pandemic. Not just the health workers who are leading the charge and risking daily exposure to this disease, but the volunteers from various sectors who are working in little ways and big ways to ensure that we prevent, contain and control the spread of COVID-19 in our state.

“The next couple of months are going to be difficult ones, but we are working hard to mitigate the shocks to our economy.”

“We salute the workers who have had to sacrifice their earnings at this time, those whose businesses have been affected by the partial lockdown in Oyo State. Private schools cannot operate at this time. Event planners are also badly hit; you can’t run your operations when there are no gatherings.

“Night clubs have lost income; the curfews seem to be targeted at your business. Cinemas are facing huge losses. Transporters are taking cuts; they have been directed to operate at 60% capacity. The principles of social distancing have also affected the income of many more businesses and individuals who rely on their daily income. Many of you have lost your jobs. But as our people say, ” Ilé ọba t’ójó, ẹwà ló bùsi.”

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“The COVID-19 pandemic has struck. It is now the responsibility of us all to build something out of this pandemic that will make generations to come proud. Post COVID-19, we will be left with an economy which must be grown and sustained. This is why I ran for governor, for a time like this. I will make the tough decisions so that our economy can thrive.

“We want to get our economy back on track. This is why we have started opening up the system while keeping an eye on the reports from the Oyo State COVID-19 Emergency Operations Centre.”

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