Osun State Government has hit back at the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) over claims concerning the implementation of the 2025 Federal Government-ASUU agreement at Osun State University (UNIOSUN), saying the institution implemented the applicable provisions before the Federal Government.
The state government said it had also commenced payment of the relevant arrears, questioning why ASUU commended other states for implementing the agreement but failed to acknowledge Osun’s efforts.
In a statement issued on Saturday and published on the Osun State Government’s X handle, the government described ASUU’s omission as “particularly curious” and accused the union of creating a misleading impression about its treatment of academic staff at UNIOSUN.
According to the government, Governor Ademola Adeleke became the second governor, after Ekiti State, to approve implementation of the applicable salary adjustment.
It said UNIOSUN subsequently implemented the adjustment and began paying the associated arrears.
“The Osun State Government considers this omission as mischief. Our commitment to staff welfare is unparalleled and the records in our University speak to this claim,” the statement said.
Government consequently rejected any suggestion that it had neglected the welfare of UNIOSUN academic staff or failed to fulfil its obligations under the agreement.
It argued that the situation at UNIOSUN should not be equated with unresolved issues in the federal university system.
ASUU has acknowledged outstanding matters affecting federal university workers, including unpaid portions of withheld salaries and deductions.
Osun Government said it was unfair to imply that the state had taken a similar position towards academic staff at UNIOSUN.
Osun challenges ASUU over UNIOSUN law
The state government also took issue with ASUU’s position on the legal status of UNIOSUN.
ASUU had reportedly claimed that the Osun State University Law was a domesticated version of the Universities (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Amendment) Act, 2012.
But the Osun Government dismissed the assertion, saying, “That assertion is incorrect.”
According to the government, UNIOSUN has its own Establishment Law enacted by the Osun State House of Assembly.
It said the university is therefore governed by its enabling legislation and the statutory framework applicable to its organs, including the Visitor, Governing Council and other duly constituted authorities.
The government maintained that its position was not aimed at restricting ASUU’s right to speak on issues affecting its members.
Rather, it said the union retained its constitutional and statutory rights to express its views and advocate for academic staff welfare.
However, the government said it had a responsibility to correct what it described as “misleading impressions” about its performance and commitment to workers at UNIOSUN.
It maintained that approval and implementation of the salary adjustment, alongside payment of applicable arrears, provided evidence of its commitment to the welfare of academic staff.
The dispute therefore centres on both the implementation of the 2025 Federal Government-ASUU agreement at UNIOSUN and the legal framework under which the state-owned university operates.
Osun Government insisted that its actions on staff welfare should be judged against the implementation already carried out at UNIOSUN rather than the unresolved issues being experienced in parts of the federal university system.
