The governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State, Senator Sharafadeen Alli, has unveiled an ambitious governance agenda centred on local government autonomy, promising to restore full independence to councils if elected governor in the 2027 general election.
Speaking on Monday during an interactive session tagged “A Day With BSA” at the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Press Centre, Iyaganku, Ibadan, the senator said empowering local governments would accelerate development and improve service delivery across the state.
According to him, many of Oyo State’s long-standing challenges – including insecurity, inadequate infrastructure and food insecurity – persist because local governments have been prevented from performing their constitutionally assigned responsibilities.
He argued that the state’s assumption of local government functions has weakened grassroots governance and contributed to rising insecurity.
The lawmaker, who represents Oyo South Senatorial District in the National Assembly, said sectors such as security, agriculture, mining, rural development and primary healthcare would perform more effectively when administered through autonomous local government councils.
“From May 29, 2027, we will have fully functional and autonomous local governments and area development councils in Oyo State,” Alli declared.
To strengthen grassroots administration, the APC flagbearer pledged to restore statutory subventions and running grants to local governments for the rehabilitation of council roads, community infrastructure and support for neighbourhood watch and vigilante groups.
He added that financially empowered councils would independently implement projects tailored to the needs of their communities.
On education, Alli promised comprehensive reforms across primary, secondary and tertiary institutions aimed at improving learning standards and restoring confidence in the public education system.
He said consultants currently managing tertiary institutions would be disengaged, while governing councils would operate strictly in line with their enabling laws.
The APC candidate also pledged to recruit more teachers, reduce classroom sizes to a maximum of 30 pupils, upgrade school facilities and restore school subventions, and ensure that a substantial portion of the state’s annual budget is allocated to education.
As part of efforts to promote vocational education and improve food production, he promised to revive school farms in rural communities and establish technical colleges in each of Oyo State’s three senatorial districts.
In the agricultural sector, Alli proposed the establishment of commodity boards alongside the provision of tractors, fertilisers and other farm implements to boost productivity.
He added that cottage industries would be encouraged to process agricultural produce, while guaranteed off-takers would provide market opportunities and create jobs for young agripreneurs.
On healthcare, the governorship hopeful pledged to ensure every ward has a functional primary healthcare centre, while every local government area would have a fully operational general hospital.
He also promised to recruit more medical personnel to improve access to quality healthcare services throughout the state.
Addressing security, Alli said his administration would strengthen neighbourhood watch and vigilante groups through improved welfare packages, operational vehicles and modern security equipment.
He further promised to prioritise road rehabilitation and potable water supply across both urban and rural communities, ensuring that schools, hospitals, markets and other public institutions benefit from improved access to clean water.
The APC candidate also pledged increased government support for artisans, market associations and other trade groups to stimulate economic growth and promote peaceful coexistence.
For workers, Alli assured civil servants that salaries would be paid on or before the 25th of every month. He also promised regular recruitment exercises, continuous capacity development, prompt payment of pensions and gratuities, and the restoration of the 13th-month salary.
In the sports sector, he said his administration would revive grassroots sporting competitions, construct standard stadiums across the state’s six geopolitical zones and provide greater support for Shooting Stars Sports Club and other football clubs operating in Oyo State.
Alli also addressed concerns arising from the APC governorship primary, assuring party members that efforts were underway to reconcile aggrieved aspirants.
“It is not out of place to see aggrieved aspirants in a strong political party like the APC which paraded an array of well-qualified and competent individuals who showed interest in contesting for the party’s ticket,” he said.
“I want to assure you all that grievances from the fallout of the gubernatorial primary election of the party in the state would soon be resolved.”
Earlier, Oyo State NUJ Chairman, Akeem Abas, said the union remained non-partisan and was providing a platform for governorship candidates to present their programmes to the public.
Abas added that the union would extend similar opportunities to other governorship candidates to outline their plans for the state’s development.
The event was attended by Alli’s running mate, Adesoji Adedeji; Oyo APC Chairman and former Deputy Governor, Moses Adeyemo; members of the state APC executive, party leaders and supporters.
