Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, has approved additional off-duty days for state employees in a move aimed at easing the financial challenges posed by rising transportation costs. Workers on Grade Levels 01-14 will now receive two days off per week, while those on Grade Levels 15-17 will have one day off, according to a statement from the State Head of Service, Mr. Kehinde Onasanya.

The decision is designed to relieve the stress on workers commuting to work and to enhance productivity through a more motivated workforce. The new policy builds on a previous one-day-off initiative introduced in July 2023.

Governor Abiodun is also preparing to implement the new national minimum wage, assuring labor leaders that Ogun State would be among the first to adopt it. He emphasized that the state’s revenue has significantly increased, with the budget rising from less than N400 billion to N703 billion, and a target of a trillion Naira budget for the next year.

Additionally, the governor highlighted efforts to mitigate the impact of fuel subsidy removal, including converting mass transit buses to compressed natural gas (CNG) and introducing electric motorcycles and tricycles to reduce transportation costs by 50-80%.

Ogun State will also benefit from the federal government’s provision of 500 CNG kits and 20 CNG buses to support this energy transition, which aims to lessen reliance on petrol.

Labor leaders, while appreciating the governor’s efforts, called for stricter price regulations in markets and special transport arrangements for workers and students to alleviate economic hardship.