Osun govt defends UNIOSUN agreement, legal governance framework
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.
The government also rejected claims that it had neglected the welfare of academic staff.
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 press release by ASUU’s National Executive Council.
ASUU had issued its statement after an emergency meeting held in Abuja on Saturday, September 5, 2026, with parts of its position addressing the implementation of the 2025 FGN-ASUU agreement and governance issues at UNIOSUN.
The Osun Government said it respected ASUU’s constitutional and statutory rights to express its views and advocate for its members, but maintained that some assertions 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 to approve the salary implementation, after Ekiti State, describing ASUU’s failure to acknowledge Osun among states that had commenced implementation as surprising and inexplicable.
The government rejected any suggestion that it had been indifferent to the welfare of academic staff or failed to honour its obligations under the agreement.
It 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 statement also rejected ASUU’s description of the decision concerning the tenure of the Vice-Chancellor as an arbitrary executive action intended to circumvent the law.
The government said the matter had gone 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.
It maintained that UNIOSUN remained open and functional, with its focus on teaching, research, innovation and community service, while urging 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 government reaffirmed its commitment to the welfare of academic staff and the development of UNIOSUN, while insisting that ASUU and other stakeholders must operate within the law and respect the authority of constitutionally and statutorily established institutions.