The Oyo State Executive Council has appealed to the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT) to allow students return to school and discontinue the disruption of the academic calendar any further.

The Commissioner for Information, Prince Dotun Oyelade, made the appeal in a statement issued after the executive council meeting.

“While the reasons for the withdrawal of the students from school by the NUT are understandable, the collateral implications, both social and economic are raising unintended concerns and should equally be considered by the NUT.” he said

Council reassured that the government is taking strategic steps to ensure that the issue of the kidnapping at Oriire Local Government is brought to a close soon.

During the session, Council approved the release of ₦8,768,954,000 in the first instance, for the procurement of teaching and learning materials for primary and junior secondary schools across the state. The total cost of the project is ₦23,012,000,000.

In accordance with UBEC Abuja, in collaboration with the World Bank, the textbooks to be purchased will be in Numeracy, Literacy, Mathematics, English Language, and Basic Science.

According to the Commissioner, “Upon the successful procurement and distribution of the approved textbooks, Oyo State becomes eligible for a reward-based disbursement of Two United States Dollars (US$2) per student per subject, in line with the project’s results-based financing arrangement.”

Council also approved the realignment and supplementary budget of the year 2026.

The Commissioner added that, in order to meet the aspirations of this administration and its determination to ensure that all on-going projects across the state are completed before the end of this administration, some ministries, departments, and agencies have requested increments in their budgets. The Council therefore increased the 2026 budget from ₦892,085,074,480.79 to ₦1,102,085,074,480.79.

According to the commissioner, the Council was also briefed on the need to approve the execution of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA)-related implementation programmes being undertaken by the Office of the Secretary-General of the AfCFTA Secretariat in collaboration with the Oyo State AfCFTA Office.

He noted that the Secretary-General of AfCFTA commended Governor Seyi Makinde for the remarkable progress recorded in the implementation of the AfCFTA initiative within the state, which has exposed Oyo State to trade and investment opportunities in Africa, particularly in the areas of industrialization, agribusiness, and export-oriented enterprises.

To this end, Council approved the payment of 250,000 dollars (Two Hundred and Fifty Thousand United States Dollars) to the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to provide Oyo State a good footing in attracting investment in Africa.

The Commissioner also said that after the successful implementation of Sustainable Action for Economic Recovery (SAfER) in Oyo State last year, Council approved the total sum of ₦5,909,734,750.00 for the implementation of the 2026 work plan of the Health Insurance and Food Security components of SAfER.

The Commissioner recalled that SAfER was established by Governor Seyi Makinde in 2023 to cushion the economic impact of the removal of fuel subsidy by the Federal Government.

He added: “As a result, transportation fares were reduced for workers, elderly people, and the vulnerable. Food was equally distributed, health insurance was established for pensioners, and the government also supported small-scale entrepreneurs”.

Council was convinced that this assistance should continue because the hardship being experienced by citizens has not abated.