Oyo Government Urges Striking Teachers to Resume Work, Approves N8.7bn for School Materials

The Oyo State Government has appealed to striking teachers to reopen public schools across the state, even as it approved N8.7 billion for the procurement of teaching and learning materials for basic education.

Governor Seyi Makinde’s administration made the appeal as the ongoing strike by the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) continues to disrupt academic activities across primary and secondary schools in the state.

The government says the intervention forms part of a wider plan to strengthen basic education delivery and improve learning outcomes.

Strike Disrupts School Calendar Across Oyo

Public schools in Oyo State have remained closed following industrial action by teachers, triggered by security concerns after the abduction of pupils and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area.

The prolonged closure has affected thousands of learners, especially in the final weeks of the academic term, raising concerns among parents and education stakeholders.

Government officials, however, insist that dialogue remains ongoing with the teachers’ union to restore normal academic activities.

N8.7bn Education Intervention Approved

The State Executive Council approved N8.7 billion as the first tranche of funding for teaching and learning materials.

The total project is valued at about N23 billion and targets primary and junior secondary schools across Oyo State.

According to the government, the materials include textbooks covering literacy, numeracy, mathematics, English language, and basic science.

The project is being implemented in partnership with the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) and the World Bank under a results-based financing framework.

Performance-Based Funding Model Introduced

The Oyo State Government explained that the initiative includes a performance-based funding structure designed to improve accountability and learning outcomes.

Under the arrangement, the state is expected to receive additional funding based on successful procurement and distribution of approved textbooks.

Officials say this model is designed to reward efficiency and ensure that public education investments deliver measurable results.

Budget Increased to N1.1 Trillion

Alongside the education intervention, the state government also approved a supplementary budget, raising the 2026 appropriation from N892.1 billion to N1.1 trillion.

Officials say the adjustment will help fast-track ongoing infrastructure and social development projects before the end of the current administration cycle.

Government Expands Social and Economic Programmes

The Executive Council also approved additional spending under several initiatives, including the Sustainable Action for Economic Recovery (SAfER) programme.

The programme is designed to cushion economic pressures through food support, transport relief, healthcare access, and small business assistance.

The government says it will continue to expand interventions aimed at reducing the impact of economic reforms on vulnerable residents.

What This Means for Education in Oyo

The latest developments highlight a dual challenge for the state government: managing an ongoing teachers’ strike while pushing forward major education reforms.

While the N8.7 billion investment signals a commitment to improving school infrastructure and learning materials, the effectiveness of the intervention will depend on how quickly schools reopen and normal academic activity resumes.

For now, the government is banking on negotiations with teachers and financial commitments to restore stability to the education system.