The Oyo State Government has defended its handling of the industrial disputes involving medical and dental officers and lecturers at the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), accusing the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Senator Sharafadeen Alli, of exploiting the situation for political gains.

The government said it had consistently provided financial backing for the implementation of allowances and welfare provisions for medical personnel since December 27, 2023, adding that discussions were ongoing with the affected unions to resolve the disputes.

In a statement on Friday, the Special Adviser on Media to Governor Seyi Makinde, Dr Sulaimon Olanrewaju, described Alli’s criticism of the administration as an attempt to exploit legitimate concerns for partisan advantage.

Olanrewaju said committees had been constituted and discussions were ongoing through established channels to reach mutually beneficial agreements in the interest of workers, students and residents.

He listed the allowances funded by the state government to include skipping allowance, Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS), Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS), responsibility allowance, rural posting allowance and in-service training with pay.

“These are neither policy pronouncements nor campaign promises. They are concrete financial commitments that this administration has funded and sustained over the years,” he said.

The government also cited its investment in the professional development of healthcare personnel, claiming that Oyo State recorded the best combined Part I and Part II results in the Faculty of Family Medicine at the September 2026 National Postgraduate Medical College examinations.

Olanrewaju argued that the dispute was not caused by the government’s refusal to recognise or support doctors’ entitlements, insisting that the financial implications of the relevant circulars had been backed by the state since December 2023.

He challenged Alli and the APC to account for their records on workers’ welfare, healthcare and education, recalling what he described as unresolved labour and institutional challenges during previous APC administrations in the state.

On LAUTECH, the governor’s aide said the Makinde administration inherited an ownership crisis that had created uncertainty for students and parents but took steps to resolve the dispute, restore stability and reposition the institution.

He said it was ironic that the APC, under whose previous administration the university experienced prolonged disruptions, was now presenting itself as a champion of its welfare and development.
“Those who failed to solve the problems of yesterday cannot credibly claim to be the custodians of the solutions today,” he said.

Olanrewaju also dismissed allegations that Makinde was neglecting his responsibilities by attending political engagements outside the state, arguing that governance continued through established institutions, ministries and administrative structures.

He listed regular salary payments since 2019, attention to pension obligations and implementation of promotions among the administration’s achievements in workers’ welfare.

The governor’s aide said workers should assess political promises against the records of successive administrations rather than campaign rhetoric.

He maintained that Makinde remained committed to resolving the ongoing disputes through engagement with the affected stakeholders and protecting the interests of workers, students and residents.