My administration will give 100 per cent subvention to tertiary institutions – Alao-Akala

The gubernatorial candidate of the Action Democratic Party (ADP) in Oyo state and former governor of the state, Chief Adebayo Alao-Akala, has promised that if he is given the mandate to rule the state once again, he will restore the 100 per cent monthly subventions to all the state-owned tertiary institutions in order to put an end to the financial hardships faced by state owned institutions.

Alao- Akala who made this promise on Thursday while speaking on his plans for the education sector of the state added that the restoration of 100 per cent subventions to the schools will put an end to their financial constraints, which they have been battling with in the last five years and curb the continued rot that is bedevilling the state’s education sector for years..

“During my first tenure as the governor of Oyo State, I showed my genuine concern for the development of education. But since I left the office, our education, health and economic sectors have been decelerating continuously, this reverse mode of the fortune of the state is pathetic.

“Our administration committed huge funds to the education sector in order to cater for infrastructure, we gave adequate monthly subventions and there was timely payment of salaries and allowances of workers as well as pensioners. I must reiterate that I left over 10 billion Naira in the state’s coffers without any loan or debt. Besides, the funds that our government allocated to all the tertiary institutions still sustained them for almost three years after we left office, had the present administration imbibed our commitment education, the sector would not be comatose now.

“It is alarming that all the sectors of our economy have nosedived under the misrule of the APC; hence the need for a rescue mission by an experienced, tested and trusted leader. I am seeking another opportunity to govern Oyo State in order to put her on the right track. The education sector is in a critical situation and if elected, we will face this squarely by declaring a state of emergency in the sector,”  the ADP candidate stated.

Alao-Akala enjoined the people of the state to vote for his prty in all the forthcoming elections in order to put a stop to what he described as the unconstitutional commercialisation of primary and secondary education in the state, adding that, “recall that under my watch between 2007-2011, the giant strides recorded placed Oyo state first in the Southwest and second in Nigeria owing to the free, compulsory and qualitative education policy. I will make sure we restore the lost glory when given the mandate”.

“When elected to power, our government will create a more conducive learning environment through massive rehabilitation and reconstruction of school blocks, provision of science and laboratory equipment, construction of hostels and supply of instructional materials. As a way of ensuring that final year secondary school students are not constrained by lack of money, our government will restore the payments of WASSCE and NECO fees for all students in public secondary schools.

“I vow that our government will ensure the provision of an enabling environment to motivate both the teachers, pupils and students for optimal performance and output as well as attract investors to boost the sector,” Alao-Akala stated.