Oyo 2027: LG Autonomy, 13th-Month Pay, 30-Pupil Classes Top Alli’s Agenda
By Oladapo Samuel Olusola
The Oyo State governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Sharafadeen Alli, has unveiled his policy agenda for the 2027 governorship election, promising local government autonomy, a 13th-month salary for civil servants and major reforms in the education and healthcare sectors if elected.
Alli made the commitments on Tuesday while speaking at a high-powered dialogue on the future of Oyo State, organised by the Oyo Rising Citizens Forum (ORCF) at an event centre in Ibadan.
The former senator said his administration, if elected, would grant full financial and administrative autonomy to the 33 local government areas of the state from May 29, 2027.
He said the councils would be allowed to independently manage their resources and take responsibility for the provision of basic infrastructure and services within their respective jurisdictions.
“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 said.
On education, the APC candidate pledged to reduce the number of pupils in classrooms to a maximum of 30, saying the measure would improve the quality of teaching and learning while also creating employment opportunities for teachers and other education professionals.
He also promised to align the state’s education funding with the UNESCO recommendation of allocating at least 18 per cent of the annual budget to the sector.
According to him, his administration would prioritise the training and retraining of teachers as well as the recruitment of additional personnel to address manpower shortages in schools across the state.
In the health sector, Alli pledged to establish a functional general hospital in each of the 33 local government areas and at least one fully equipped primary healthcare centre in each of the 351 wards in Oyo State.
As part of what he described as his commitment to healthcare development, he said he would personally facilitate the provision and commissioning of at least three fully equipped primary healthcare centres across Oyo South Senatorial District before the 2027 election, for subsequent handover to the state government.
Speaking on the controversial Ibadan Circular Road project and concerns raised by affected communities, Alli promised to take steps to address the grievances within the first 72 hours of assuming office, if elected.
He said a committee would be constituted within 48 to 72 hours to examine the concerns of residents affected by the project.
“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 said.
On economic development, the candidate said his administration would focus on agriculture and mining as key areas for job creation and revenue generation.
He also pledged to establish at least one cottage industry in each local government area, while introducing parabolic dryers in the seven major towns in Ibarapa and two in each senatorial district to support agricultural processing and reduce post-harvest losses.
Alli further promised to revive the Broadcasting Corporation of Oyo State (BCOS), expand opportunities for youth participation in vocational and political activities, and increase women’s participation in governance through strategic appointments.
He also pledged prompt payment of salaries, pensions and gratuities to workers and retirees.
The candidate also fielded questions from participants on issues including electricity supply, alleged sale of government properties, the welfare of medical doctors and access to revolving loans for traders.
Alli responded to the issues by outlining policy proposals which he said would form part of his administration’s broader development agenda for the state.
The dialogue provided an opportunity for stakeholders and residents to engage the APC candidate directly on his plans for governance and development ahead of the 2027 Oyo State governorship election.