The All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Oyo State, Senator Sharafadeen Alli, has pledged to place teachers at the centre of his administration’s education reform agenda if elected governor in 2027.
Alli made the pledge in a goodwill message to teachers in the state to mark the 2026 World Teachers’ Day celebration.
In a statement issued ahead of the celebration, Alli said his administration would roll out an enhanced teachers’ welfare package within its first 100 days in office, including improved car and housing loans, special rural hardship allowances and a dedicated housing and mortgage scheme for teachers, with priority given to hard-to-staff areas.
He also promised immediate clearance of backlogs relating to promotions, inter-zonal transfers and secondments through a transparent digital tracking portal designed to eliminate administrative bottlenecks and unnecessary delays.
Alli said his administration would introduce annual State Teachers’ Excellence Awards, with cash prizes, vehicles, laptops and training grants for outstanding teachers, while ensuring an open digital selection process and special recognition for those serving in rural communities.
He further pledged to establish a fast-track unit for retired teachers’ pensions and gratuities, with clear timelines for clearing outstanding arrears.
The APC candidate also promised continuous professional development for teachers in digital skills, artificial intelligence tools, inclusive education and subject mastery, particularly for those working in rural areas.
According to him, special incentives would be introduced for rural postings, alongside a structured teacher-mobility system to address the uneven distribution of qualified teachers and improve retention in underserved schools.
Alli said specialised recruitment and training would also be provided for special-needs and early-childhood teachers, describing the two areas as critical to building an inclusive and sustainable education system.
On school safety, he promised a comprehensive security architecture covering perimeter fencing, community security partnerships and rapid-response protocols, as well as support and insurance packages for teachers affected by insecurity.
He also pledged guaranteed and timely release of running grants to school heads through a digital accountability system, stressing that teachers should no longer be forced to spend personal money on basic materials needed for effective teaching.
Alli said his administration would accelerate the renovation of classrooms, provision of furniture and development of water, sanitation and hygiene facilities, with priority given to rural and overcrowded schools.
He promised to expand access to Information and Communication Technology through solar-powered laboratories, digital devices and modern teaching tools, particularly in underserved public schools.
Addressing the challenge of out-of-school children, Alli pledged an aggressive reduction of the estimated 674,000 children outside the school system through community mobilisation, incentives and public tracking of progress.
He also proposed an “Oyo Teachers First Compact”, with measurable key performance indicators covering teachers’ welfare, security, professional development and learning outcomes, to be implemented in partnership with the Nigeria Union of Teachers and other education unions.
Alli said teachers remained indispensable to human capital development, stressing that no education reform could succeed if teachers were neglected, demoralised or denied the tools and welfare required to perform their duties.
He said the World Teachers’ Day celebration should go beyond speeches and ceremonies to concrete commitments capable of restoring dignity, motivation and professional pride among teachers.
“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.
He congratulated teachers across Oyo State on the celebration and assured them that an APC administration under his leadership would make their welfare, professional development and working conditions a major priority.
Alli urged teachers to remain committed to their profession, assuring them that his proposed administration would work with education stakeholders to rebuild confidence in the state’s education system and deliver measurable improvements in learning outcomes.
