Osun Teacher Recruitment: Government, APC Trade Blame Over Appointment Letters

Fresh controversy has erupted over the recruitment of teachers in Osun State, with the state government and the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) giving conflicting accounts on the status and sincerity of the exercise.

The Osun State Government said the process of issuing letters of appointment to the first batch of newly recruited teachers is currently underway, dismissing claims that senior officials are deliberately frustrating the exercise.

In a statement issued in Osogbo, the Governor’s spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, said the directive of Governor Ademola Adeleke was being implemented by relevant agencies in line with established procedures.

Rasheed explained that earlier delays were due to funding challenges and the implementation of the new minimum wage, stressing that neither the Head of Service nor the Chief of Staff was obstructing the process.

According to him, the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) and the Teaching Service Commission (TESCOM) are jointly coordinating the deployment of successful candidates under the supervision of the Ministry of Education.

“Reports suggesting that top government officials are blocking the release of letters of appointment are false. Officials involved are working hard to ensure the successful completion of the first phase,” Rasheed said.

He urged media organisations to seek clarification from official sources, adding that the recruitment exercise remains ongoing and that updates would be communicated as key milestones are achieved.

However, the Osun State chapter of the APC disputed the government’s position, questioning the sincerity of the Adeleke administration’s commitment to recruiting teachers more than three years after assuming office.

In a separate statement, the Osun APC Director of Media and Information, Kola Olabisi, accused the government of relying on rhetoric rather than concrete action, particularly regarding plans to replace teachers disengaged in 2022.

The opposition party alleged that the administration lacked clarity on the actual number of teachers to be recruited and criticised public explanations by the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi.

“How can a government announce readiness to recruit teachers without clearly stating the figures involved or the cost implications?” the APC queried.

The party insisted that such gaps undermine public confidence and rejected the government’s claim that limited access to local government funds was responsible for the delay.

The APC argued that constitutional provisions and court rulings have clarified the autonomy of local councils, adding that the state government has received substantial allocations since coming into office and should not blame financial constraints for recruitment challenges.

Describing the exercise as politically motivated, the APC said it remained unconvinced, alleging that the recruitment process was a “kick-and-start” approach driven by political pressure.