UNIOSUN is a leading implementer of FGN-ASUU agreement — Osun Gov’t

The Osun State Government has stated that Osun State University (UNIOSUN) is among the leading institutions implementing the 2025 Federal Government of Nigeria–Academic Staff Union of Universities (FGN-ASUU) agreement, dismissing claims suggesting otherwise.

The government also rejected the claim that the Osun State University Law is a domesticated version of the Federal Universities (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 2012, describing the assertion as legally incorrect.

The state government stated this in a release signed by the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, in reaction to a press statement issued by ASUU’s National Executive Council after its emergency meeting in Abuja.

Alimi said Governor Ademola Adeleke was the second governor, after Ekiti State, to approve the implementation of the salary component of the agreement, and criticized ASUU’s failure to acknowledge Osun among the states that had commenced implementation.

According to the statement, “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.”

“It is on record that Governor Ademola Adeleke is the second to approve the salary, after Ekiti State. The omission of Osun State from ASUU’s commendation of states that have commenced implementation is therefore surprising and inexplicable. 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.”

“While the Osun State Government respects the constitutional and statutory rights of ASUU to express its views and advocate for the welfare of its members, it is necessary to correct certain misleading impressions contained in the Union’s statement, especially where such claims concern the commitment and performance of the Osun State Government.”

“It is particularly curious that ASUU’s statement, while commending a number of state governments for commencing implementation of the 2025 FGN-ASUU Agreement, failed to acknowledge the demonstrable efforts of the Osun State Government in this regard.”

“The Osun State Government therefore rejects any insinuation that it has been indifferent to the welfare of academic staff or that it has failed to honour its obligations under the agreement.”

“Indeed, while ASUU itself acknowledges that several issues remain outstanding in the Federal University system, including unpaid portions of withheld salaries and deductions, it is unfair to create the impression that Osun State has adopted a similar posture towards its own university.”

“ASUU claimed that the Osun State University Law is a domesticated version of the Universities (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Amendment) Act, 2012, and proceeded to build its argument on that premise. That assertion is incorrect.”

“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.”

“Consequently, the attempt by ASUU to present the Federal Universities (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act as though it is the controlling legislation for UNIOSUN is legally misconceived. The university does not derive its existence, powers, and governance structure from the Federal Universities (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act. Its institutional framework is founded on its own enabling law. This distinction is not merely semantic; it is fundamental to any serious legal analysis of the governance of UNIOSUN.”

“The government therefore finds it difficult to understand the basis upon which ASUU, a trade union, seeks to substitute its interpretation for that of the constitutionally empowered institutions of government.”

“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,” he said.