In 2022, Biodun Oyebanji made 11 major promises. How has he fared?

During the 2022 electioneering in Ekiti, Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji (BAO), then candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), was the only candidate who published a manifesto. For some of us coming from the media/civil society background, the first point of engagement with a politician is this written piece–which we hold in one hand, and then later put on a comparison scale with whatever is recorded as achievement. In the 26-page manifesto, BAO presented a “Roadmap To a Prosperous Ekiti.” These days, Nigerians could be wary of these things that come from politicians, I understand. But BAO, in his document, quickly explained that this “roadmap is not a politician’s promise to a voting public, but a pledge from one Ekiti man to his people.” He then laid out six pillars with which he intended to drive through.

About a month ago, the BAO administration clocked three, and it seems now is a good time to put BAO’s promises to check, especially as the governor is also seeking reelection. I dusted the 2022 manifesto and began to match the promises with the achievement records of the BAO administration. For context, BAO hung the six pillars across: youth development and job creation, human capital development, agriculture and rural development, infrastructure and industrialisation, arts, governance, culture and tourism.

Let’s start with governance.

BAO Promise 1: Design a sustainable programme to clear outstanding salary and pension obligations and ensure full compliance with the contributory pension scheme policy going forward

What has been done?: The governor always says payment of pension and gratuity is no big deal, and that it is simply the entitlement of these retirees—one of whom is his own father—but these old people make it a celebratory event. Since the BAO admin came in, N7.6bn has been paid in gratuity from July 2023 to October 2025. There has also been a payment of N25bn pension to 10,008 pensioners. There is a N1.1bn pension arrears (July – September 2018) paid. Most importantly, the governor has set a N200m monthly commitment to defray gratuities. The state has also fully implemented the federal government’s Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS), making the National Pension Commission (PENCOM) list Ekiti as one of the top-performing states in pension remittance.

BAO Promise 2: Improve the working environment of the civil service, including the renovations of the state secretariat and the provision of broadband connectivity

What has been done?: In the last three years, there has been continuous remodelling and furnishing of office complexes at the state secretariat, where we have most of the ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs). There has been a partnership with CyberNetiq and MarsDev in hacking e-governance. There is a free mass transit scheme for civil servants (and students) in Ado, the state capital and Ikere. Heads of local administrations (HLAs) have been provided with official vehicles, and the administration has also implemented the financial benefit of previous promotion exercises.

BAO Promise 3: Provide logistics and equipment support to existing security agencies, deepen use of technology for security, recruit officers into Amotekun to complement

What has been done?: The BAO administration not only recruited and provided operational vehicles for the Amotekun Corps, there was also an upward review of their salary, which took effect from January 2023. More than 15 patrol vehicles were purchased for the security agencies, including two armoured personnel carriers (APC). The Emergency Command Centre (ECC), to provide a central point for incident reporting, has also been completed. There has been an increase in security votes to local government chairmen across the state. Initially, there was a deployment of additional troops from the Nigerian Army 32 Artillery Brigade (Akure), and now we have approval for the establishment of the Army’s 148 Battalion in Ikere. The administration also established the Ekiti Agro Marshals to protect farmlands and schools in rural areas. Needless to add that the Nigeria Security Tracker (NST) has ranked Ekiti as the safest state in Nigeria, under BAO’s watch.

BAO Promise 4: Ensure policies and budgets align with the Ekiti State 30-year Development Plan

What has been done?: The BAO manifesto itself is an offshoot of the state’s 30-year development plan (inherited from the Kayode Fayemi administration, where BAO also served). The admin adopted zero-based budgeting, a technique to ensure all expenses are justified– after being in alignment with the development plan/six pillars. By the way, are you aware Ekiti ranked first in the BudgIT State Fiscal Transparency League four consecutive times (Q3, Q4 2024, and Q1, Q2 2025)? The state was also first in the PSLI Subnational Audit Efficacy Index (2023). And oh, Ekiti also ranked first in the Annual Growth Rate of IGR (2023). Well, you should also know that the state has moved from a 30% allocation to capital projects to 50%.

On job creation.

BAO Promise 5: Develop our knowledge zone in order to create jobs, new markets, deliver digital/vocational skills

What has been done?: The approval of an $80m investment loan for the Ekiti Knowledge Zone (EKZ) is no news. There are talks on a partnership with China-Africa Discourse Studies (CECADS) to build a technology training hub in Ekiti. In the last three years, there’s been the completion of two editions of the Young Innovators Program rewarding Startups and Founders with Support. The admin also launched a Start-Up Garage. The state has also activated an MSME ICT Hub in Ado-Ekiti. There has been a facilitation of over $10m (in conjunction with USADF) for ten cooperatives in the state.

On human capital development.

BAO Promise 6: To provide quality education and equip our children with the foundation required

What has been done?: About 350 classrooms, science/ICT laboratories have been built/rehabilitated across the state. Not less than 1,000 teachers have been recruited and trained, including 353 ICT teachers trained. There is an installation of an internet facility to facilitate digital literacy in at least 87 schools across the state. The BAO administration recorded a 73.5% increment in the subvention given to tertiary institutions. Should we mention the prompt payment to meet the UBEC counterpart funding? Over N1bn has been made available for teachers in car/housing loans.

BAO Promise 7: To ensure access to affordable, quality healthcare for all

What has been done?: About 108 primary healthcare centres have been constructed/rehabilitated across the state– with installation of ICT infrastructure. There has been an upgrade of Ikole Specialist Hospital to a Federal Medical Centre, and also an upgrade of the Federal Medical Centre, Ido to a Teaching Hospital. About 200,000 Ekiti residents have been covered under the Ulerawa (health insurance) scheme. There has been a renovation of 11 General Hospitals. Establishment of 17 (1 per LGA) Emergency Operation Centres (EOCs) across the state to discover and respond to health events. Of course, there is a free health scheme for people with disabilities in the state.

BAO Promise 8: To protect our marginalised and vulnerable people

What has been done?: There has been a disbursement of over N3bn conditional cash transfer (CCT) to 44,069 beneficiaries in the state– including widows and indigent families.

On agriculture and rural development

BAO Promise 9: Develop our rural community, support our farmers and improve productivity of our agric sector

What has been done? About 5,000 hectares of land have been cleared for farmers and agric-investors. 50% subsidy not only on seedlings for farmers, but also on tractorisation. About 2,000 farmers have been supported with both production assets and small-scale processing equipment. There is an ongoing 100km farm-to-market and rural roads across the state.

On infrastructure.

BAO Promise 10: Deliver new and complete ongoing projects that will increase power supply and extend and maintain our transportation networks

What has been done?: 284km of roads have been constructed/rehabilitated, including the Ekiti Ring Road (Phase 1). The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has approved the commencement of flight operations at the Ekiti Agro-Allied Cargo Airport. There is a connection of the Special Agro-Processing Zone (SAPZ) to the national grid.

On arts, culture and tourism

BAO Promise 11: Develop our tourism industry by investing in our attractions, cultural endowments and assets

What has been done?Have you visited the Ikogosi Warm Springs lately? Yes, you should visit. The administration is constructing an Arts and Culture Village, and has also set up the Olowe of Ise Ajalemo Foundation.

These highlighted projects are not exhaustive; they are simply to illustrate the administration’s work across key sectors.

BAO, like many politicians, made promises in his manifesto. And what’s more, his administration’s development agenda has been anchored on a clear policy strategy and implementation plan, which it appears to be faithfully following. This is a breath of fresh air.

Owolabi, Oyebanji’s research and policy aide, writes from Oke Bareke, Ado Ekiti