The governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State, Sen. Sharafadeen Alli, has pledged that his administration would not use funds belonging to local governments if elected in the 2027 governorship election.

Alli made the promise during a dialogue on the future of Oyo State organised by the Oyo Rising Citizens Forum in Ibadan.

He said the state’s 33 local governments would enjoy full autonomy from May 29, 2027, with councils given control of their resources and responsibility for developing their communities.

“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,” he said.

Alli also promised to introduce a 13th-month salary for civil servants and ensure prompt payment of salaries, pensions and gratuities.

On education, he pledged to reduce classroom congestion to a maximum of 30 pupils per class, saying the policy would improve learning outcomes and create employment opportunities for teachers and graduates.

He also promised that Oyo would allocate at least 18 per cent of its budget to education, in line with the UNESCO recommendation cited during the event, while providing regular training for teachers and recruiting additional personnel.

In the health sector, Alli proposed establishing 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 state’s 351 wards.

He further pledged to facilitate and commission at least three fully equipped health centres in Oyo South Senatorial District before the 2027 election and hand them over to the state government.

On the Circular Road project, Alli said an APC administration would establish a committee within 48 to 72 hours of assuming office to address complaints from affected residents.

He pledged that his administration would not seize residents’ land or sell state assets.

Alli said agriculture and mining would form the basis of his economic agenda, with plans to establish at least one cottage industry in every local government area.

He also promised to provide parabolic dryers across Ibarapa and the state’s senatorial districts, revive the Broadcasting Corporation of Oyo State (BCOS), expand vocational opportunities for youths and increase women’s representation in government appointments.

Participants at the dialogue also raised questions on electricity, state property, healthcare workers and access to loans for traders, to which Alli presented policy proposals as part of his governance agenda.