Oyo govt approves N4.27bn funding for December 29 council elections

The Oyo State Government has approved ₦1.711 billion as its counterpart funding for the conduct of local government elections scheduled for 29 December 2026 across the state’s 33 local government areas.

The approval was given by the State Executive Council to enable the Oyo State Independent Electoral Commission (OYSIEC) to commence preparations for the chairmanship and councillorship elections.

The Commissioner for Information, Prince Dotun Oyelade, disclosed this in a statement following the council’s meeting, adding that the local government councils would provide the remaining 60 per cent of the election funding.

Under the approved arrangement, the 33 local government councils are expected to contribute ₦2.566 billion, while the state government will provide ₦1.711 billion, bringing the total projected funding to ₦4.278 billion.

The December 29 poll is expected to determine the political leadership of the state’s local government areas, with residents set to elect chairmen and councillors.

In a separate decision, the council approved ₦437.4 million for the accreditation requirements of the Nursing Programme at Abiola Ajimobi Technical University, as the institution moves towards expanding its academic offerings beyond science and technology.

Oyelade said the university was at the final stage of the accreditation process, warning that failure to meet the professional accreditation deadline could put the investment already made in the programme at risk.

He disclosed that the administration of Governor Seyi Makinde had spent more than ₦3 billion on acquiring equipment for the programme’s take-off.

The commissioner explained that the additional funding was intended to support the university’s diversification drive and strengthen its capacity to become financially self-sustaining.

The State Executive Council also approved ₦6.744 billion as the state government’s 50 per cent counterpart contribution to the construction, renovation and equipping of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) Oyo Annex.

Oyo East Local Government Area is expected to provide the other 50 per cent, bringing the total project funding to ₦13.489 billion.

According to the statement, the decision was informed by the need to improve healthcare access in Oyo and neighbouring communities. It noted that about 70 per cent of patients receiving services at the LAUTECH Teaching Hospital, Ogbomoso, reportedly come from Oyo and its environs.

The council commended Makinde for his cooperation with the 33 local government councils and his development initiatives as his administration approaches the end of its tenure in May 2027.

The approval of the election funding comes as OYSIEC is expected to intensify preparations for the 29 December polls, which will determine the next set of elected officials at the grassroots level.