Kidnapped teachers have shut down Oyo schools, but Governor Makinde says he’s got a plan, and N8.7bn worth of textbooks to back it up.

So here’s what’s happening in Oyo, according to cbinewstv, Governor Seyi Makinde is basically pleading with the Nigerian Union of Teachers to call off their strike and get pupils back into classrooms.

The strike kicked off after teachers and pupils were abducted in Oriire Local Government Area, and honestly, the NUT’s concerns are fair enough. But Makinde’s point is that keeping schools shut has knock-on effects socially and economically, and he’s promised that security agencies are working round the clock to bring the victims home safely.

Prince Dotun Oyelade, the Commissioner for Information, put it like this after the State 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.”

Now, the Council didn’t just stop at appeals. They’ve signed off on N8.7 billion to start buying teaching and learning materials for primary and junior secondary schools. The full tab for the project? N23 billion.

What’s coming? Textbooks for numeracy, literacy, maths, English and basic science. And there’s a sweetener, if Oyo distributes the books properly, the state qualifies for US$2 per student per subject under a World Bank/UBEC results-based deal.

Money talk didn’t end there. The 2026 budget has been bumped up from N892 billion to a hefty N1.1 trillion. Why? Ministries asked for more cash to make sure Makinde’s ongoing projects actually get finished before his tenure ends.

There’s also an international angle. The Council approved a US$250,000 payment to the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat. The AfCFTA Secretary-General has already given Makinde a nod for how Oyo is running with the initiative, especially in agribusiness, industrialisation and export. The idea is to position Oyo to attract more investment across Africa.

And remember SAfER? That’s the Sustainable Action for Economic Recovery programme Makinde launched in 2023 after fuel subsidy removal. It’s coming back for 2026 with N5.9 billion approved for health insurance and food security. Last year it meant cheaper transport for workers and the elderly, food aid, health cover for pensioners, and support for small businesses. The Council reckons the economic hardship hasn’t eased, so the help needs to continue.

#OyoState #SeyiMakinde #NUTStrike #EducationNigeria #SAfER #AfCFTA #NigeriaNews #OyoSchools #Cbinewstv