Osun Govt to ASUU: UNIOSUN leading implementer of FGN-ASUU agreement
By Waliu Adetokun, Osogbo
The Osun State Government has faulted the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) over its recent position on the implementation of the 2025 Federal Government-ASUU agreement and the administration of the Osun State University (UNIOSUN).
The government said UNIOSUN had already implemented the agreement and commenced payment of the applicable arrears, insisting that Osun State should have been listed among states that had commenced implementation.
The Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Oluomo Kolapo Alimi, stated this in a reaction to the communiqué issued by ASUU’s National Executive Council after its emergency meeting in Abuja on September 5, 2026.
Alimi said, “For the avoidance of doubt, the Osun State Government has implemented the Federal Government/ASUU agreement at Osun State University, even before the Federal Government and has also commenced payment of the applicable arrears.”
According to him, Governor Ademola Adeleke was the second governor to approve the implementation of the salary agreement after Ekiti State.
He described ASUU’s failure to acknowledge Osun State among the states implementing the agreement as “surprising and inexplicable,” adding that the state government viewed the omission as an attempt to portray its administration in a negative light.
The government maintained that it had not neglected the welfare of academic staff at UNIOSUN and said its commitment to staff welfare was reflected in the steps taken to implement the agreement.
It also rejected any suggestion that Osun had failed to meet its obligations to academic workers, stressing that the situation at UNIOSUN should not be compared with outstanding issues in the federal university system.
The government also disagreed with ASUU’s position on the legal framework governing UNIOSUN.
ASUU had reportedly described the Osun State University Law as a domesticated version of the Universities (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Amendment) Act, 2012.
But the state government said the position was incorrect, explaining that UNIOSUN operates under its own establishment law enacted by the Osun State House of Assembly.
“Osun State University has its own Establishment Law enacted by the Osun State House of Assembly. The University is therefore governed by its enabling legislation and the statutory framework applicable to its organs, including the Visitor, the Governing Council and other duly constituted authorities of the institution,” Alimi said.
The government argued that the federal law governing federal universities could not be regarded as the legislation controlling UNIOSUN.
It described any attempt to rely on the Federal Universities (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act as the basis for determining the governance of UNIOSUN as “legally misconceived.”
On the controversy over the tenure of the Vice-Chancellor, the government denied that its decision was an arbitrary executive action or an attempt to circumvent the law.
According to the government, the matter went through the appropriate constitutional and legislative process, following which the Osun State House of Assembly amended relevant provisions of the UNIOSUN Establishment Law.
The government said the legislature had the power to amend a law in line with the Constitution and established legislative procedures.
“It is therefore misleading to describe the legislative intervention as an attempt to undermine the rule of law. On the contrary, the legislative amendment is itself an exercise of the rule of law,” the statement said.
The state government also rejected the suggestion that UNIOSUN was facing an existential crisis that could lead to industrial action.
It said the university remained open and functional and continued to perform its responsibilities in teaching, research, innovation and community service.
“There is therefore no basis for portraying Osun State University as an institution in crisis or a bad example,” the government said.
The government acknowledged ASUU as an important stakeholder in the university system but said the union did not have statutory powers over the Visitor, Governing Council, university management or the Osun State House of Assembly.
It urged the union to verify its facts before issuing statements capable of creating tension or giving the impression that UNIOSUN was unstable.
“It is particularly important that a union of academics should be guided by facts, evidence and the applicable law,” the government said.
The state government said it remained open to discussions with ASUU on issues concerning the welfare of academic staff, but insisted that such engagement should be based on facts, law and dialogue.
It reaffirmed its commitment to meeting its legitimate obligations to academic staff and supporting the continued growth and development of UNIOSUN.
The government also said it would continue to defend the authority of the duly constituted organs of the university and the state.
“The doors of the Osun State Government remain open to responsible engagement with ASUU and all other stakeholders,” Alimi said.
“However, the Government will continue to insist that every stakeholder, including ASUU, must operate within the bounds of the law and respect the authority of constitutionally and statutorily established institutions.”