By Our Correspondent
National News – Seyi Makinde, the Governor of Oyo State, has approved a N10,000 transportation allowance for workers in the state to cushion the impact of rising petrol prices.
The decision was announced on Monday in Ibadan, the state capital, following concerns about increasing transport costs triggered by the hike in the pump price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol.
The approval came after the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in Oyo State requested government intervention to support workers facing higher commuting expenses.
The state NLC Chairman, Kayode Martins, confirmed the development in a statement issued on Monday, explaining that the transport allowance is part of efforts to reduce the economic pressure on the state workforce.
According to Martins, the N10,000 transport allowance will take effect from April 2026 and will initially run for three months.
The temporary relief package is expected to assist public workers struggling with increased transportation fares caused by the ongoing surge in petrol prices across Nigeria.
He explained that the labour union had earlier made a formal appeal to the state government on Monday, urging authorities to introduce palliative measures that would support workers dealing with higher living costs.
The governor’s approval came shortly after the request, demonstrating what the union described as a prompt response to workers’ welfare concerns.
Governor Makinde confirmed the approval during the launch of the N1.5 billion Youth Entrepreneurship in Agribusiness Project – Sustainable Action for Economic Recovery and Empowerment (YEAP-SAfER) disbursement programme.
During the event, the governor stated that the transport relief would be implemented as a temporary measure for the first three months starting in April.
The governor said the initiative was designed to help workers cope with transportation expenses while the government continues to evaluate broader economic support measures.
Authorities are expected to release additional details regarding the implementation process and payment structure through relevant government agencies in the coming weeks.
Labour leaders in the state have welcomed the decision, describing it as a timely intervention aimed at easing the financial burden on workers amid Nigeria’s current economic challenges.
