The Oyo State Chapter of the Campaign for Democratic and Workers’ Rights (CDWR) has raised serious concerns over the state government’s ongoing food distribution programme to civil and public servants, describing it as a “credit scheme” designed to benefit politically connected billionaires rather than ordinary workers.
In a press statement signed by CDWR State Coordinator, Comrade Abiodun Bamigboye, known as Abbey Trotsky, the group said the programme, widely portrayed as a welfare initiative, is in reality a mechanism for creating a guaranteed market for the products of government allies and cronies.
“Contrary to popular perception, the food items are neither free nor subsidized,” the statement read. “Media reports confirm that workers are receiving the goods on credit, with salary deductions scheduled to begin in February 2026. This is a coercive and exploitative practice, particularly at a time of rising inflation and stagnant wages.”
The group argued that a genuine relief programme should be fully funded by the government. CDWR stressed that the current arrangement transfers the financial burden onto workers, effectively coercing them into buying the items.
According to the group, a more meaningful intervention would have been for the state to produce and manage the food directly through its Ministry of Agriculture under democratic oversight. Such a model, they argued, could boost public agricultural capacity, create employment opportunities for thousands of youths, and ensure a sustained supply of affordable food items. It could also generate additional revenue to fund essential public services such as education and healthcare.
Instead, CDWR warned, the current system ensures that the majority of benefits flow into the hands of private individuals with political connections who are leveraging state power for guaranteed profits at the expense of workers.
The statement also raised concerns over a ₦7.5 billion agricultural loan obtained by the Seyi Makinde-led administration, which was intended to reposition agriculture in the state. “Had this substantial loan been prudently and transparently utilized, Oyo State should now be experiencing increased agricultural output and lower prices for key products. Rather than addressing food insecurity, the government appears to be using this so-called food distribution scheme to mask its failure to deliver tangible results,” CDWR said.
The group is calling for a democratic and transparent investigation into the management of the ₦7.5 billion loan. It also urged the establishment of publicly owned farm settlements and plantations under democratic control to guarantee food security, create jobs, and prioritize workers’ welfare over private profit.
Beyond the food distribution issue, CDWR highlighted the worsening conditions of workers in the state, stressing the need for substantial improvements in wages and working conditions. “Workers should be able to afford basic necessities from their earnings, not be compelled to borrow in order to eat through deceptive schemes designed to enrich billionaire politicians and their cronies,” the statement concluded.
CDWR called on workers across Oyo State to organize and join the campaign for decent wages, humane living conditions, genuine food security, and an end to policies that prioritize private profit over public welfare.
The Oyo State Government is yet to respond to the allegations.
