Laboratory workers in Oyo State are pushing the government to raise their salaries and tighten regulation of sachet water producers, saying low pay drives talented staff away while poor oversight lets contaminated water reach consumers.
The workers say they cannot attract or keep skilled technicians when wages lag far behind what private companies offer. Brain drain from public labs means fewer people to test water quality, verify food safety, and screen for disease. As experienced workers leave, the remaining staff struggle with outdated equipment and heavy workloads.
Sachet water is a major concern. Thousands of small producers operate across Oyo with minimal supervision. The workers say many producers ignore basic hygiene standards, use contaminated sources, and skip safety tests before selling to the public. Without proper lab oversight, contaminated sachets slip through to markets and homes, causing waterborne diseases.
The workers want the Oyo State government to increase their pay scales to match what federal agencies and private firms offer. They also want more funding for lab equipment, better working conditions, and enforcement teams to inspect water producers regularly. They are calling on the state's health ministry and the governor to treat this as urgent.
Oyo State's public health depends on clean water and reliable lab testing. The workers say investing in their salaries and resources now will prevent disease outbreaks, protect children from contamination, and save the government money on medical emergencies later. Without action, they warn, more experienced staff will leave, quality control will collapse further, and public health risks will grow.
The state government has not yet responded to the workers' demands. Labour unions representing the staff say they are preparing to formally present a petition to the health commissioner and governor within the next two weeks.
