Governorship candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Osun State, Dr Najeem Salaam, has promised to recruit 20,000 people into government jobs within the first 100 days of his administration if elected.

Speaking during ARISE NEWS TOWN HALL on Tuesday, Salaam said the recruitment target was achievable based on his experience in government.

“But 20,000 is doable. I’ve been in government, and we know the way we do. We did it then.”

He said the proposed recruitment would not be restricted to a particular profession, but would cover different categories of workers, including teachers and others, I did not even call it OES. I said I’m going to engage 20,000 youth in the first 100 days. It can be of different fit. It can be teachers, it can be this and that. I’m not talking to a particular thing.”

He explained that he had conducted research before making the promise and was confident that the commitments contained in his 10-point development agenda were achievable. “People that know me will know that I talk, when I talk, I’m a very reserved person. I don’t talk anyhow. I conduct my research as looking to things that I can do before I say it out.”

Salaam said his administration would also prioritise the provision of uninterrupted electricity across Osun State, arguing that the state now has the legal framework to develop its own electricity system. “You see, in the states, in the country that we are today, there is what we call electricity act that was passed in 2023, and that has enabled the state government to go their own way and provide energy, electricity for their people.”

The ADC candidate said he had consulted people who could assist with the proposed electricity project and gave an assurance that Osun would have 24-hour power if he wins the election. “And I want to reassure the people of Osun that if I’m elected to be the governor of the states, we will be enjoying 24 hours of electricity without interruption.”

Salaam also presented himself as a peaceful alternative to the two major contenders in the election, saying voters were looking for an option capable of ending political tensions in the state.

“I’ve been the only party that has been conducting itself peacefully. In the States, people look into that. If you give it to A or B, crisis will continue in the States.”

He said the ADC would focus on its programmes rather than attacking political opponents, arguing that elections should not be treated as a battle. “Election is not war front. It can never be a war. Election is just for you to convert, tell the people what your programmes are.”

Salaam said he was confident of winning despite the political strength of his opponents, attributing his confidence to his faith and what he described as the peaceful conduct of his party. “I want to assure you that anybody who has God has everything.”

He also said he did not want to determine which of the two major candidates should finish second, insisting that his focus was on winning the election. “If I’m to choose, I’ll give them the second position after me. The two of them, they can be judging by themselves, by their activities. I don’t want to allot the second position to any of them. But I’m the leading candidate to be.”

Salaam also promised free education from primary through secondary school and reduced tuition fees for students in the state’s tertiary institutions. “Everything about governance requires financing. Let me tell you that what we have now, as even the allocation that is coming from the federal, if you prioritise your programmes and activities, and you know the direction you want to go.”

Salaam put the state’s monthly revenue at about N17 billion on average, comprising federal allocation and internally generated revenue, and said the figure could support his proposed programmes. “Because the IGR presently that has been generated in the state, 13 billion on a monthly basis on average, 4 billion IGR are coming to the state on average, 17 billion on a monthly basis.”

He said his administration would target about N20 billion annually for education, arguing that the investment would give children from less privileged families access to education. “I have done my statistics before going to this, and I have seen that for education, in a year, it will cost us not less than 20 billion.”

Salaam said his personal experience of benefiting from free education had influenced his decision to make education a major part of his manifesto.

“I happen to be one of the beneficiaries of free education when the late Gola Ege was the governor of the state. I question myself, why is it difficult to give the same quality of free education to our people, the people that are coming behind us?”

He said his administration would also provide free medical services for children and senior citizens. “We give them free medical services.”

On elderly citizens, Salam said those who had served society deserved greater government support, I thought of it, and I think the best way to go is to take care of the aged that we call the senior citizens by giving them free medical services as well.”

Salaam also pledged to set aside N1 billion within his first year in office to support women-owned businesses. “I said the first year, within the first year, one billion.”

He said supporting small businesses would strengthen household incomes, expand economic activity and ultimately increase government revenue. “It’s going to be an easy thing to support the women that are doing small, small business in our community so that they can build up and the economy will change.”

On security, the ADC candidate said his administration would place greater emphasis on community policing and involve traditional rulers, hunters and vigilante groups in securing communities. “I said I’m going to go back to the community. The traditional rulers have to be involved.”

He said local communities were best positioned to understand security threats in their areas and should therefore play a central role in policing.

“It is the communities that know their area, that know their places.”

Salaam also promised to deploy technology to monitor entry and exit points, border towns and forests across the state. “You need high-level technology to manage some other areas. The entry point, the exit point of the state, or the border town, needs to be managed by the technology as well.”

He said he planned to deploy an equipment he referred to as “Ghost” to strengthen surveillance in forested areas. “We call it Ghost. Ghost is an equipment that will be everywhere in the bush. Meaning that every community, all our area, all the forests will be secured because the presence of the ghost will be there and it can talk to you in the language that we understand.”

Salaam also pointed to his record as Speaker, saying security agencies received vehicles and equipment during his tenure. “We’ve done that before while I was serving as a speaker. We gave them the Ammo personnel carrier. About 25 of those were given to them. Then the patrol vehicle, over 100 was given to them.”

The ADC candidate said his ambition was ultimately to build a government focused on service and leave behind a lasting legacy rather than accumulate wealth. “I’m not after the money. I’m after the name that will reign forever in the human world.”

He said his political experience, education and involvement in governance had prepared him for the governorship, adding that his administration would be centred on the people. “To tell the whole world that my own government is going to be a people-centred government. Not for my selfish achievements.” (AriseNews TV)