Governor Makinde Says N650k Salary Too Small

Governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde has lamented that his monthly salary of N650,000 is too meagre.

While addressing the newly sworn-in Commissioners in the state, the governor said the sum was too small for a governor who presides over a budget of five hundred million dollars.

He said the poor remuneration packages is a major cause for temptations, adding that his government will tackle poor remuneration in the state’s civil service.  

He said, “We do have challenges and I can give you an example of the kind of issues that we are faced with. When I was on the podium being sworn-in, I announced that I was donating my salary to the pension board. I actually thought my salary was going to be like N3 or N4 million monthly but when I came in here, I discovered that my salary is only six hundred and fifty naira (N650,000) monthly, which is less than two thousand dollars ($2,000). And then, I have a budget of over five hundred million dollars.

“How can somebody earning $24,000 a year preside over a five hundred million dollar budget? The temptation is just too high.

“When I was growing up, anytime I saw permanent secretaries and top civil servants, all around with their entourage, jeeps, Land cruisers, I thought they were making it big because I was driving Peugeot or Toyota Camry.

“But when I came in here, the salary of Permanent Secretaries is under N500,000 per month; in such an environment where you have contractors coming with big temptations. The expectation is just too great and high. But the good news is, we will find a solution to this. It’s going to business unusual in Oyo State.”