Makinde pledges review of pensions, gratuities in Oyo

…vows Xmas stampede suspects must face trial

Seyi Makinde, governor of Oyo State has promised to review pensions and gratuities, clearing the backlog of arrears and revisit the Contributory Pension Scheme in the State.

He also vowed to get rid of banditry and other crimes, charging traditional rulers to oversee and exercise authority in their domains with a view to helping Government improve security in the State.

This is as Governor Makinde vowed that suspects involved in the Christmas funfair stampede which occurred at Islamic High School, Bashorun, Ibadan, must face trial regardless of their status.

Recall that the funfair stampede claimed the lives of at least 35 children.

The governor who was responding to the calls for leniency, stated that the rule of law would be upheld in Oyo State.

Governor Makinde stated that some individuals had argued that similar incidents in Anambra and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) did not lead to prosecutions, questioning why Oyo State should proceed differently.

Read also: Oyo pays N18bn in pensions, N15bn in gratuities to pensioners

“Even if nobody is held accountable elsewhere, in Oyo State, the rule of law will prevail but clarified that while he is not opposed to the court granting bail to the suspects, the judicial process must take its course. He emphasised that accountability is paramount in ensuring justice for the victims”, he said.

The governor, who made these remarks at the 2025 Annual Interfaith Thanksgiving Service, the 6th edition since 2019, held at the Secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan, commended the State’s workforce and the labour union leaders for their support and cooperation since the inception of his administration.

He however charged them to put in more effort towards validating their values as public/civil servants.

He also congratulated the 45 newly-appointed Permanent Secretaries, emphasising that most of them merited the appointments after going through rigorous examinations and screening exercises.

The governor advised them to see their appointments as the beginning of good things in their lives.