Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, said on Friday that his administration had employed about 10,000 workers across different sectors in the last three and a half years.
Oyebanji also said that during the period, “a total of 37,019 workers have enjoyed promotion, conversion/advancement, while inter-cadre transfers have been implemented for 1,993 workers across different segments.”
The governor spoke in his address at the 2026 May Day celebration attended by thousands of workers under the aegis of the Nigeria Labour Congress, led by Kolapo Olatunde, and the Trade Union Congress, led by Dr Omotola Farotimi. The event was held at the Ekiti Parapo Pavilion in Ado Ekiti.
He thanked the workers for their solidarity visit to his office on Thursday, saying, “It is for this reason we have remained committed to the welfare of our workers through prompt and regular payment of salaries, allowances, pensions and gratuities.”
“As at date, we do not owe any worker promotion arrears. All promotion backlogs have been cleared up to 2025 with timely financial backing of N43.86 million per month as at December 2025,” he said.
The governor, while listing recruitments, said, “We have recruited 4,253 teachers across SUBEB, the Teaching Service Commission and the Ministry of Education. This is aside the 1,217 non-teaching staff employed to support our educational system.
“Similarly, 1,461 workers have been employed into the civil service, while another 972 were recruited into the Local Government Service Commission.
“In response to manpower shortage in the health sector, 1,396 and 489 health workers were employed through the Hospitals Management Board and Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, respectively. This is aside the 160 contract appointments of doctors and nurses to fill critical areas of our health care system.
“The Ekiti State House of Assembly recruited 45 new workers, while the State Electricity Board engaged 35 technical officers. We will not rest on our oars as we continue to engage qualified workers into the public service.”
Oyebanji said his administration had increased car and housing loans by about 100 per cent at the state level, adding, “We have committed N1.36 billion to staff lands/housing for 12,214 civil servants. A total sum of N68 million was approved as loans to teachers at SUBEB, a privilege that had never been extended to them before now.
“We have also maintained our pact with retirees by defraying a total of N2.691 billion inherited as pension arrears from March to September 2018 upon assumption of office in October 2022.
“A total of N30.767 billion and N5.899 billion have been paid as pensions and gratuities of local government pensioners respectively.
“At the state level, a sum of N31.623 billion has been paid as pensions for retired state workers, while over N10 billion was paid to defray gratuity arrears between October 2022 and March 2026. This is in addition to a monthly payment of N100 million each to both state and local government retirees for gratuities.
“Our N20,000 increase in pensions across the board was just a gesture to meet immediate needs at the time. I have requested a broad review of our pension structure as it stands today,” the governor said.
In his remarks, the NLC chairman acknowledged the state government’s responsiveness to workers’ welfare demands.
While commending the government for implementing key requests presented during the 2025 May Day celebration, including the promotion of deserving workers up to 2025, Olatunde appealed for further action in 2026, particularly the approval of pending promotions for workers and teachers, payment of outstanding leave bonuses, and settlement of gratuities.
On her part, the TUC chairman, Farotimi, advocated community policing, improved protection of economic hubs such as farms and markets, and quicker emergency response systems to enhance security.
On economic reforms, Farotimi called for the adoption of living wage policies, expansion of social protection programmes, improved access to credit for small businesses, and skills development aligned with market demands.
Recall that workers in Ekiti State under the aegis of the NLC and TUC on Thursday held a “thank you walk” to the Governor’s Office in Ado Ekiti as part of activities marking this year’s May Day celebration.
NLC State Chairman, Olatunde, who spoke at the Governor’s Office where the walk terminated, said, “Workers now feel directly involved in the democratic process because of the administration’s responsiveness, transparency and people-oriented policies geared towards workers’ welfare. We have chosen to repay the governor with our votes.”
He described Oyebanji as “a worker-friendly leader who has consistently demonstrated genuine commitment to the welfare of workers.”
Olatunde said the administration’s prompt payment of salaries, deductions, pensions and gratuities, alongside other labour-friendly reforms, had restored confidence in the public service.
He added that Ekiti workers got a good deal during the minimum wage negotiations, alongside other interventions on behalf of the workforce, noting, “For these reasons, workers in the state have resolved to mobilise themselves and their family members to ensure that the governor secures over 500,000 votes in the June 20 governorship election.”