A fresh controversy has emerged in Osun State over the recruitment of teachers, as the state government and the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) offered conflicting accounts of the process. The government said letters of appointment are being issued to the first batch of newly recruited teachers, dismissing claims that senior officials were obstructing the exercise.

Governor Ademola Adeleke’s spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, explained that the delay in issuing appointments was due to funding challenges and implementing the new minimum wage, adding that the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) and the Teaching Service Commission (TESCOM) are jointly coordinating the deployment under the Ministry of Education. Rasheed urged the media to rely on official sources for accurate updates.

However, the Osun APC disputed the government’s account, questioning the sincerity of the recruitment exercise more than three years after Adeleke assumed office. The party accused the government of relying on rhetoric instead of action, particularly regarding plans to replace teachers disengaged in 2022. They also criticised the lack of clarity on the number of teachers to be recruited and the associated costs.

The APC described the exercise as politically driven and argued that claims of limited local government funds were misleading, noting that statutory provisions and court rulings affirm council autonomy. The party called for transparency and concrete actions to restore public confidence, insisting that the government’s explanations were insufficient.