Ibadan – October 2, 2025
In an unprecedented show of empathy and swift intervention, the Governor of Oyo State, Engr. Seyi Makinde, has announced a remarkable salary increase for 67 security guards working at the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) Teaching Hospital, Ogbomoso. The decision came after one of the guards broke down in tears while narrating their plight during the governor’s visit to the hospital earlier this week.
The guards, who had endured years of poor remuneration and neglect, will now earn ₦80,000 monthly, up from the paltry ₦18,800 they had been receiving. The announcement instantly sparked jubilation among the security personnel, hospital staff, and community members present at the event, with many describing the governor’s intervention as “life-changing.”
The turning point occurred when Governor Makinde, who was touring the hospital facilities, handed the microphone to one of the guards. With a shaky voice and tears streaming down his face, the officer recounted years of frustration and hardship.
“On the 1st of June, 2021, we raised placards, asking you to help us. We’ve been here since before Otunba Alao Akala and before the completion of this place. We are not staff but indigenes of Oyo State, please help us, we are suffering. I have a family and three children; my age is fast running out. Please help us, Your Excellency,” the guard pleaded.
His emotional outburst struck a chord with the governor and the audience. The security guard went further to disclose that they received just ₦18,800 per month, an amount grossly insufficient to sustain a family in today’s economic climate.
At that moment, a hospital representative clarified that the guards were not directly employed by the hospital. Instead, they were outsourced through a private firm that was contracted to provide security services. The outsourcing company, according to reports, received ₦27,000 per guard from the hospital but remitted only ₦18,800 to the workers, leaving the guards trapped in poverty for years.
This revelation underscored the longstanding debate over outsourcing practices in Nigeria, where workers are often subjected to exploitation, poor pay, and lack of benefits, while middlemen profit disproportionately from government or institutional contracts.
Visibly moved by the guard’s plight, Governor Makinde wasted no time in making a decisive pronouncement.
“I can solve the problem right away by saying that all 67 should be converted directly to ad-hoc workers and you will get ₦80,000 every month from the first of October,” Makinde declared.
The statement was met with thunderous applause, ululation, and tears of joy from the guards and onlookers, many of whom could hardly believe the governor’s generosity. In one sweeping decision, the governor had not only addressed the workers’ long-standing grievances but also set a precedent in valuing essential service providers often neglected in Nigeria’s labor system.
Witnesses described the atmosphere as electrifying. Security guards embraced one another, some shedding tears of joy, while others danced and hailed the governor. Hospital staff also joined in the celebration, applauding what they called a “rare gesture of compassion and leadership.”
For many of the guards, the new wage represents not just financial relief but also a restoration of dignity. From struggling to feed their families, pay school fees, and cover basic healthcare needs, they now see a path toward stability.
Governor Makinde’s decision is being interpreted by analysts and observers as a strong statement about responsive governance. By intervening directly, he demonstrated the power of political will in addressing systemic problems.
“This is not just about LAUTECH security guards,” said a labor analyst in Ibadan. “What Governor Makinde has done is to expose the exploitation inherent in outsourcing contracts across Nigeria. Many workers in hospitals, schools, and government agencies face the same conditions. The difference here is that the workers found a listening ear.”
The gesture also aligns with Makinde’s broader reputation for people-centered policies in Oyo State. Since assuming office in 2019, he has prioritized workers’ welfare, education, healthcare, and infrastructure, gaining popularity as a governor who often places humanity above bureaucracy.
The plight of the LAUTECH guards highlights a national issue: outsourcing as a labor model. While outsourcing is designed to reduce costs and streamline operations, it often leaves workers in precarious positions without job security, benefits, or fair pay.
Labor unions have consistently criticized the practice, calling it exploitative. The Makinde intervention may reignite calls for reform, particularly in public institutions where outsourced workers often form the backbone of operations but remain the most poorly treated.
For the 67 security guards at LAUTECH, the governor’s decision is nothing short of transformative. With their monthly earnings increasing more than fourfold, they can now look forward to a better quality of life. Beyond the money, the conversion to ad-hoc staff means they are now directly recognized as part of the hospital’s workforce, ending years of invisibility.
“This is a dream come true,” said one of the jubilant guards after the announcement. “For years, we begged and cried, and nobody listened. Today, the governor has remembered us. May God bless him and his family.”
News of the salary increase spread quickly across social media, drawing widespread commendation for Governor Makinde. Nigerians from different states praised his swift action and compassion, contrasting it with the often bureaucratic and unresponsive approach of many public officials.
“This is what leadership should look like,” one commentator wrote on X (formerly Twitter). “You listen to the people, you feel their pain, and you act immediately. Governor Seyi Makinde has set a standard for others.”
Some, however, cautioned that while the gesture is laudable, it must be sustained to ensure that the guards continue to receive their salaries as promised.
The governor’s announcement has sparked fresh hope among workers in similar conditions across the country. Many are now calling on other state governments to emulate Oyo State by addressing outsourcing exploitation and ensuring that all workers earn a living wage.
The incident also reaffirms the importance of citizen engagement. The guard’s bold decision to speak up in the governor’s presence, despite years of neglect, ultimately changed the course of his colleagues’ lives.
Governor Seyi Makinde’s intervention at LAUTECH Teaching Hospital will be remembered as a landmark moment in Oyo State’s labor relations. By raising the guards’ salaries from ₦18,800 to ₦80,000, he not only transformed the lives of 67 families but also sent a powerful message about responsive governance, fairness, and dignity of labor.
At a time when Nigerians are grappling with inflation, unemployment, and economic uncertainty, Makinde’s action stands out as a symbol of hope and humanity in leadership. It underscores the belief that good governance is not merely about policies written on paper but about practical, compassionate actions that touch lives directly.
For the LAUTECH guards, October 2025 will forever be remembered as the month when their voices were heard, their tears wiped, and their worth acknowledged.
