The All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Oyo State, Senator Sharafadeen Alli, has unveiled his comprehensive governance blueprint, promising a secure, prosperous, and economically vibrant state through responsive leadership.
Speaking on Monday at the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Press Centre in Iyaganku, Ibadan, during an interactive session titled “A Day With BSA”, Alli outlined a multi-sectoral transformation strategy centered on local government autonomy, educational overhauls, agricultural revitalization, and improved workers’ welfare.
Grassroots Governance and Security
Alli promised the full implementation of constitutional local government autonomy to accelerate development at the grassroots level. Under his administration, local councils will manage food production, security, and rural infrastructure independently. He pledged to restore state subventions and running grants to councils to facilitate local road rehabilitation and fund community security initiatives, such as local vigilantes and neighbourhood watch groups.
Education and Healthcare Overhaul
The APC candidate detailed sweeping reforms across primary, secondary, and tertiary institutions. Key educational promises include:
Disengaging external consultants from state-owned tertiary institutions and returning full autonomy to institutional governing councils.
Reducing public school class sizes to a maximum of 30 pupils.
Deploying regular school subventions, expanding teacher recruitment, and rehabilitating dilapidated classrooms.
Reviving school farms in rural areas and building new technical colleges across Oyo’s three senatorial districts to enhance vocational training.
For healthcare, Alli committed to establishing a functional Primary Healthcare Centre (PHC) in every ward, alongside a fully equipped General Hospital in all local government areas, backed by intensive recruitment of medical personnel.
Civil Service Welfare and Economic Growth
To boost the state economy and support public servants, Alli pledged that salaries would be paid consistently before the 25th of every month. His blueprint also guarantees the prompt clearance of outstanding pensions and gratuities, alongside the restoration of the 13th-month salary bonus. Furthermore, he promised increased financial and structural support for market associations, artisans, and small-scale trade groups.
In the sports sector, the candidate vowed to revive grassroots competitions, build standard stadiums across the state’s six geopolitical zones, and increase funding for local teams, including the Shooting Stars Sports Club (333).
Party Unity and Next Steps
Addressing internal party friction stemming from the party’s primary elections, Alli assured supporters that internal reconciliation is underway. “It is not out of place to see aggrieved aspirants in a strong political party like the APC, which features a wide array of competent individuals,” Alli stated. “I want to assure you all that grievances from the fallout of the gubernatorial primary election in the state will soon be resolved.”
Oyo State NUJ Chairman, Akeem Abas, reiterated the union’s apolitical stance, emphasizing its role as an agenda-setter that will continue to provide equal platforms for all gubernatorial candidates to share their visions with the public.
The manifesto launch was attended by Alli’s running mate, Mr. Adesoji Adedeji, State APC Chairman Chief Moses Adeyemo, members of the state party executive, and prominent party stakeholders.
