Candidate of the Zenith Labour Party, ZLP, in this year’s governorship election in Oyo State, Barr. Sharafadeen Alli, has reiterated that as it was when he served in government with former governor Rashidi Ladoja, workers will take their salaries latest the twenty fifth day of every month while the thirteenth month payment will be resusitated as a bonus just as it is done in the private sector.
Alli, who spoke on YSLife, a weekly political radio interview, on Splash 105.5 FM, narrated his desire to turn the table around in the area of education, employment, health and agriculture and restructure the pension system to give life back to our pensioners.
The ZLP candidate also reiterated his desire to cancel the security levy on churches and mosques immediately he assumes office.
Speaking on his vision on education, Alli reviewed the present system whereby Oyo which was adjudged a pacesetter is now trailing behind even the so called educational disadvantaged states of the country.
“Imagine Oyo state rated number twenty six out of thirty six in the country in WAEC grading,there are reasons for this and these we want to address, we shall return to the policy of thirty students per class, expand the school environment conducive enough for learning.”
He observed that the tertiary institutions are down already and wondered if the University established by the state government can be regarded as a public one where students pay about one million naira as fees.
“The Ladoke Akintola University of Technology LAUTECH,shall be revamped with a dialogue with Osun state with a view to make it a public institution as it should be.
“Most of the colleges in Oyo state are shut consistently as a result of unpaid salaries to both academic and non academic staff and students are paying dearly for it.”
On pensioners, Alli expressed worry that people are made to retire without the hope of getting anything to sustain their lives, especially primary school retirees who for years will not be placed on pension whereas there are backlog of areas of gratiuty.
“What we shall do is make sure their names remain in their last school of service and their pension will be included in the monthly voucher such that they will be paid along with regular teachers, this system will be replicated across in the civil services system.”
He noted that artisans are fading out of our system and stressed that employment generation should start from revamping the technical colleges and train our youths, many who have become okada riders as a result of joblessness.
The ZLP guber candidate said there are abundant job opportunities in Information technology and this is why his government will establish centers in every local government for youths to tap the awaiting opportunities.
He stated that road constructions will be concentrated on rural areas for the easy access of farmers to transport their products to the urban centres adding that we need to run a community based economy, applying the principle of comparative advantage to assist farmers and engage them in a marketing system that will encourage them to produce more.
