The governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State, Senator Sharafadeen Alli, has unveiled a sweeping reform agenda for the state, promising full autonomy for Local Governments, a 13th-month salary for civil servants, and massive overhauls of the education and health sectors.
Senator Alli, speaking Tuesday at a high-powered dialogue on the future of Oyo State organised by the Oyo Rising Citizens Forum (ORCF) at an Event Centre in IIbadan, declared that under his watch, Local Governments would become fully independent from May 29, 2027.
“My administration will not spend one kobo belonging to Local Governments. They will build their schools, build their health centres and employ their own workers. That era of stifling the councils is over,” Alli vowed to thunderous applause.
On education, the Senator promised to crash classroom population to a maximum of 30 pupils per class, a policy he said would not only improve learning but create thousands of jobs for teachers and fresh graduates.
He pledged to comply with UNESCO’s recommendation of allocating at least 18 percent of the state budget to education, train and retrain teachers, and employ more hands to bridge the deficit.
On health, Alli promised a functional general hospital in each of the 33 Local Governments and at least one fully equipped primary healthcare centre in each of the 351 wards in the state.
As a sign of commitment, he announced he would personally facilitate and commission at least three fully equipped health centres across Oyo South Senatorial District and hand them over to the state government before the election.
On the controversial circular road project, Alli promised decisive action within 72 hours of assuming office.
“I will set up a committee within 48 to 72 hours to address the grievances of all affected residents. We will not seize people’s land and we will not sell state assets,” he assured.
To revive the economy, Alli said his government would leverage agriculture and mining, establish at least one cottage industry in each Local Government Area and set up parabolic dryers in all seven towns in Ibarapa and two in each senatorial district before December.
He also promised to revive the Broadcasting Corporation of Oyo State (BCOS), engage youths through vocational and political opportunities, empower women with key appointments, and ensure prompt payment of salaries, pensions and gratuities.
At the interactive session, participants drilled the candidate on energy supply, alleged sale of state properties, welfare for doctors and revolving loans for traders – the questions Alli responded to with detailed policy proposals.
