Amanze Chinonye
The Oyo State Executive Council (ExCo) has appealed to the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) to suspend its ongoing strike and allow pupils to return to classrooms, as concerns mount over the disruption of academic activities across the state, Prime Business Africa reports.
The appeal formed part of resolutions reached at the council’s meeting held on Tuesday, June 23, 2026, where the government also assured residents that efforts were ongoing to secure the release of teachers and pupils abducted in Oriire Local Government Area.
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The NUT had embarked on an indefinite strike on June 1 following the abduction of teachers and pupils from schools in Oriire. The union directed public primary and secondary school teachers to withdraw their services pending the safe release of the victims, arguing that the incident had heightened fears over the safety of teachers and learners and disrupted academic activities across the state.
Addressing the development, the state government said it was taking strategic steps to bring the kidnapping incident to a close and restore normalcy to the affected communities. The council urged the union to reconsider its position in the interest of pupils whose education has been affected by the prolonged industrial action.
Beyond the security concerns and the ongoing strike, the council approved a ₦210 billion supplementary budget for the 2026 fiscal year, increasing the state’s budget from ₦892.09 billion to ₦1.102 trillion.
According to the government, the supplementary appropriation is intended to ensure the completion of ongoing projects across the state before the end of the current administration.
The council also approved the release of ₦8.77 billion in the first phase of funding for the procurement of teaching and learning materials for primary and junior secondary schools under the World Bank-assisted Better Education Service Delivery for All–Additional Financing for Teacher Effectiveness and School Transformation (BESDA-AFTESS) project.
The materials will cover core subjects, including Numeracy, Literacy, Mathematics, English Language and Basic Science, in public schools across the state.
Government officials said the total value of the BESDA-AFTESS project stands at ₦23.01 billion and that successful implementation would qualify Oyo State for a performance-based reward of $2 per pupil per subject under the project’s results-based financing framework.
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In a move aimed at strengthening the state’s investment profile on the continent, the council approved the payment of $250,000 to the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), saying the initiative would position Oyo to attract greater trade and investment opportunities from across Africa.
The ExCo further approved ₦5.91 billion for the implementation of the 2026 work plan of the Health Insurance and Food Security components of the Sustainable Actions for Economic Recovery (SAfER) programme.
Established by Governor Seyi Makinde in 2023, the SAfER programme was designed to cushion the economic impact of the Federal Government’s removal of fuel subsidy. The latest funding is expected to strengthen healthcare access and support food security interventions for vulnerable residents.
The council’s resolutions highlight the administration’s dual focus on addressing immediate challenges in the education sector while advancing broader development goals through investments in infrastructure, healthcare, food security and economic growth.
Amanze Chinonye is a Staff Correspondent at Prime Business Africa, a rising star in the literary world, weaving captivating stories that transport readers to the vibrant landscapes of Nigeria and the rest of Africa. With a unique voice that blends with the newspaper's tradition and style, Chinonye's writing is a masterful exploration of the human condition, delving into themes of identity, culture, and social justice. Through her words, Chinonye paints vivid portraits of everyday African life, from the bustling markets of Nigeria's Lagos to the quiet villages of South Africa's countryside . With a keen eye for detail and a deep understanding of the complexities of Nigerian society, Chinonye's writing is both a testament to the country's rich cultural heritage and a powerful call to action for a brighter future. As a writer, Chinonye is a true storyteller, using her dexterity to educate, inspire, and uplift readers around the world.
