…APC Governorship Candidate Unveils Welfare, Housing, Security, Digital Reforms, Rural Incentives
The Oyo State governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Sharafadeen Alli, has pledged to make teachers the cornerstone of his administration’s education reform agenda if elected governor in 2027, promising to begin a comprehensive transformation of the sector within his first 100 days in office.
Alli made the commitment in a goodwill message to teachers across the state ahead of the 2026 World Teachers’ Day, stressing that meaningful reform of the education sector must begin with restoring the dignity, welfare and professional confidence of teachers.
According to him, his proposed administration would introduce an enhanced teachers’ welfare package within its first 100 days, featuring improved car and housing loans, special rural hardship allowances and a dedicated teachers’ housing and mortgage scheme designed to prioritise difficult-to-staff communities.
He said the policy would be complemented by measures to remove administrative bottlenecks that frustrate teachers, including the immediate clearance of backlogs relating to promotions, inter-zonal transfers and secondments.
Alli promised to establish a transparent digital tracking portal through which teachers would be able to monitor the progress of their applications and administrative requests without unnecessary delays.
The APC candidate also unveiled plans for an annual Oyo State Teachers’ Excellence Awards, featuring cash prizes, vehicles, laptops and professional training grants for outstanding teachers.
He said the selection process would be open and digitally managed to promote transparency, while teachers serving in rural and underserved communities would receive special recognition.
Alli further pledged to establish a fast-track unit for retired teachers’ pensions and gratuities, with clearly defined timelines for processing and clearing outstanding arrears.
He said teachers would also benefit from continuous professional development programmes covering digital literacy, artificial intelligence tools, inclusive education and subject mastery, with particular attention given to teachers working in rural areas.
Addressing the uneven distribution of qualified teachers across the state, Alli promised special incentives for teachers posted to rural communities.
He proposed a structured teacher-mobility system aimed at ensuring that qualified personnel are equitably distributed while creating incentives that would encourage teachers to remain in underserved schools.
The APC candidate also promised specialised recruitment and training for special-needs and early-childhood education teachers, describing both areas as essential to developing an inclusive and sustainable education system.
Alli said the safety of teachers and pupils would receive priority under his proposed administration.
He promised a comprehensive school security architecture involving perimeter fencing, community security partnerships and rapid-response mechanisms, alongside support and insurance packages for teachers affected by insecurity.
He also pledged to guarantee the timely release of running grants to school heads, with a digital accountability mechanism to ensure transparency.
According to him, no teacher should be compelled to spend personal money purchasing basic materials or meeting essential needs required to deliver effective teaching.
“Our teachers deserve more than applause; they deserve a government that respects their sacrifices, protects their lives, rewards excellence and provides the tools required to teach effectively,” Alli said.
The APC candidate promised to accelerate the renovation of dilapidated classrooms, provide adequate furniture and improve water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) facilities across public schools.
He said priority would be given to rural, overcrowded and underserved schools where infrastructure deficits are most severe.
Alli also promised to expand access to Information and Communication Technology (ICT) through solar-powered laboratories, digital devices and modern teaching and learning tools, particularly in schools that currently lack adequate technological facilities.
On the growing challenge of out-of-school children, Alli pledged an aggressive programme aimed at reducing the estimated 674,000 children currently outside the school system.
He said the proposed intervention would combine community mobilisation, targeted incentives and public tracking of progress to ensure that children who are currently excluded from formal education are identified and returned to school.
Central to Alli’s education agenda is the proposed “Oyo Teachers First Compact”, a framework that would establish measurable key performance indicators covering teachers’ welfare, security, professional development and learning outcomes.
He said the initiative would be implemented in partnership with the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) and other relevant education unions and stakeholders.
Alli maintained that teachers remained indispensable to human-capital development and that no meaningful education reform could succeed if teachers were neglected, demoralised or denied the resources required to perform their duties effectively.
“The teacher is the foundation upon which every successful education system is built. If we want better learning outcomes, we must first invest in the people who stand in front of our children every school day,” he said.
The APC governorship candidate said World Teachers’ Day should not be reduced to speeches, ceremonies and commendations, but should serve as an opportunity for governments to make concrete commitments capable of restoring teachers’ dignity and professional pride.
He congratulated teachers across the 33 local government areas of Oyo State on the celebration and commended them for their sacrifices, resilience and contribution to the development of the state’s human capital.
Alli assured teachers that an APC administration under his leadership would make their welfare, professional development, security and working conditions major priorities.
He also urged teachers to remain committed to their profession, assuring them that his proposed administration would work closely with education stakeholders to rebuild confidence in the state’s education system and deliver measurable improvements in learning outcomes.
For Alli, the message is clear: transforming Oyo’s education sector must begin by putting those who teach its children first.
