The Oyo State Executive Council has appealed to the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT) to suspend its ongoing withdrawal of pupils from schools and allow academic activities to resume, assuring that efforts are underway to address the security concerns that led to the action.

‎The appeal was made after the State Executive Council meeting held on Tuesday and conveyed in a statement issued by the Commissioner for Information, Prince Dotun Oyelade. According to the government, while the concerns of the teachers over the recent kidnapping incident in Oriire Local Government are understandable, prolonged disruption of the academic calendar could have far-reaching social and economic consequences on pupils and their families.

As part of efforts to strengthen the education sector, the Council approved the immediate release of ₦8.77 billion for the procurement of teaching and learning materials for primary and junior secondary schools across the state. The approval forms part of a larger ₦23.01 billion education project being implemented in collaboration with the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) and the World Bank. The materials will include textbooks in Numeracy, Literacy, Mathematics, English Language, and Basic Science.

In a related development, the Council also approved a supplementary budget, increasing the 2026 budget from ₦892.09 billion to ₦1.10 trillion to accommodate ongoing projects and new priorities across ministries, departments, and agencies. According to the government, the adjustment is aimed at ensuring the completion of critical infrastructure and development projects before the end of the current administration.

‎In addition, the Council approved the payment of $250,000 to support the implementation of programmes under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), following commendation from the AfCFTA Secretariat on Oyo State’s progress in leveraging continental trade and investment opportunities. The government noted that the initiative is expected to boost industrialisation, agribusiness, and export-oriented enterprises within the state.

The Executive Council further approved ₦5.91 billion for the implementation of the 2026 Sustainable Action for Economic Recovery (SAfER) programme, covering health insurance and food security interventions. The Council maintained that the programme remains necessary to cushion the impact of economic hardship on residents. It also congratulated Governor Seyi Makinde on the qualification of Shooting Stars Sports Club for continental competition after 27 years, assuring that the Lekan Salami Stadium would be ready to host international matches.