The Osun State Government has defended its implementation of the 2025 Federal Government of Nigeria-Academic Staff Union of Universities (FGN-ASUU) agreement at Osun State University (UNIOSUN), rejecting claims that it neglected the welfare of academic staff.
The government also defended its handling of the controversy surrounding the tenure of the university’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Clement Adebooye, insisting that the decision was made in accordance with the law.
The government’s position was contained in a statement issued by the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, on Saturday, in response to a recent statement by the National Executive Council of ASUU.
ASUU issued its statement after an emergency meeting held in Abuja on September 5, 2026, with part of its position focusing on the implementation of the 2025 FGN-ASUU agreement and governance issues at UNIOSUN.
The Osun Government said it respected ASUU’s constitutional and statutory right to express its views and advocate for its members, but maintained that some claims in the union’s statement created misleading impressions about the state’s record.
According to the government, “Osun had implemented the FGN-ASUU agreement at UNIOSUN even before the Federal Government and had already commenced payment of the applicable arrears.”
It added that Governor Ademola Adeleke was the second governor, after Ekiti State, to approve the salary implementation.
The government described ASUU’s failure to acknowledge Osun among states that had commenced implementation as “surprising and inexplicable”, adding that it rejected any suggestion that it had been indifferent to the welfare of academic staff or failed to fulfil its obligations under the agreement.
The government also disputed ASUU’s interpretation of the legal framework governing UNIOSUN, particularly the union’s claim that the Osun State University Law was a domesticated version of the Federal Universities (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Amendment) Act, 2012.
“That assertion is incorrect. UNIOSUN had its own Establishment Law enacted by the Osun State House of Assembly.
“The university’s governance was therefore based on its enabling legislation and the statutory framework governing the Visitor, Governing Council and other duly constituted authorities,” the statement said.
The government further rejected ASUU’s description of the decision on the Vice-Chancellor’s tenure as an arbitrary executive action aimed at circumventing the law.
It said the matter had passed through the appropriate constitutional and legislative process, adding that the Osun State House of Assembly subsequently amended relevant provisions of the Osun State University Establishment Law following a decision by the Visitor.
“A law made by the legislature can, subject to the Constitution and applicable legislative procedure, be amended by the legislature,” the government stated.
The government maintained that UNIOSUN remained open and fully functional, with its activities focused on teaching, research, innovation and community service.
It urged ASUU to verify its facts and engage the government through dialogue rather than threats of industrial action.
“Such engagement must be based on facts rather than assumptions, law rather than conjecture, and dialogue rather than threats of industrial action,” the statement said.
The Osun Government reaffirmed its commitment to the welfare of academic staff and the development of UNIOSUN, while urging ASUU and other stakeholders to operate within the law and respect the authority of constitutionally and statutorily established institutions.
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