The All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Oyo State, Senator Sharafadeen Alli, has promised to prioritise workers’ welfare and ensure prompt payment of salaries, allowances and other entitlements, if elected governor in 2027.
Alli pledges improved workers’ welfare
Alli made the promise amid ongoing industrial actions by medical and dental officers in the Oyo State public service and lecturers at the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso, which have disrupted healthcare and academic activities.
The medical and dental officers commenced their strike on Monday, while the LAUTECH chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) embarked on an indefinite strike on Thursday over unresolved welfare and employment-related demands.
In a statement issued by Bisi Oladele, Director of Media and Publicity of the Senator Sharafadeen Alli Campaign Organisation (SSACO), the APC candidate described the development as troubling.
He accused Governor ‘Seyi Makinde of neglecting pressing governance responsibilities and questioned the state government’s commitment to workers’ welfare.
Alli argued that disputes over outstanding allowances, salary restoration and other entitlements should not have been allowed to escalate into industrial actions.
The campaign organisation explained that the medical officers were demanding payment of outstanding allowances and restoration of salaries for personnel transferred from field assignments to the Ministry of Health.
Similarly, LAUTECH ASUU members are seeking the implementation of the 2025 Federal Government-ASUU agreement, payment of outstanding entitlements, including promotion arrears, and improved facilities at the institution.
Alli expressed concern that the withdrawal of services by medical personnel could further worsen healthcare delivery in government hospitals, particularly for residents who depend on public health facilities for medical attention.
He also criticised Makinde for allegedly prioritising political activities outside the state over efforts to resolve the disputes affecting healthcare services and the academic calendar at LAUTECH.
As stated in the statement, the APC candidate maintained that the prolonged strikes would disproportionately affect vulnerable residents, including pregnant women, children, pensioners and low-income earners who cannot afford private healthcare.
The campaign organisation appealed to the striking workers and lecturers to remain open to dialogue while acknowledging their right to pursue legitimate demands through lawful industrial actions.
It also urged the state government to establish immediate contingency measures to ensure that patients requiring emergency and life-saving treatment are not abandoned during the industrial action.
Reaffirming his commitment, Alli pledged that his administration, if elected, would prioritise prompt payment of workers’ entitlements, regular engagement with healthcare professionals and improved facilities in public hospitals.
He also promised to place education and the welfare of workers at the centre of his administration, insisting that the ongoing disputes highlight the need for a more responsive approach to governance in Oyo State.
