The Osun State chapters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Accord Party have exchanged words over the delay in issuing appointment letters to newly recruited teachers in the state.
Governor Ademola Adeleke, through a statement by his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, said no official of his administration was acting contrary to his directive that appointment letters be issued to the first batch of successful applicants.
Recent reports on some online platforms had alleged that the Head of Service, Ayanleye Aina, and the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Kazeem Akinleye, were frustrating the recruitment process. However, Rasheed dismissed the claims, stating that both officials were working with relevant stakeholders to ensure compliance with the governor’s instruction.
Despite the clarification, the APC questioned the government’s commitment to employing teachers. In a statement signed by its Director of Media, Kola Olabisi, the party rejected the explanation that the delay was due to the Federal Government’s alleged refusal to release local government allocations to Osun.
Olabisi argued that local governments are constitutionally independent and accused the Adeleke administration of acting without proper planning. He said the government should have considered the financial implications of the recruitment exercise before announcing it, noting that the teachers were examined and interviewed more than two years ago.
The APC further alleged that the governor’s move was politically motivated, claiming it was aimed at countering plans by reinstated APC local government chairmen to reabsorb teachers disengaged in 2022.
In response, the Accord Party accused the APC of hypocrisy and dishonesty. The party’s Deputy Director of Media, James Bamgbose, said the APC had previously engaged in hurried recruitment for political gain without providing sustainable funding.
Bamgbose maintained that the Adeleke administration remains committed to teachers’ welfare and a structured, sustainable recruitment process. He said the government was prioritising needs assessment, verified vacancies and long-term wage planning in line with broader education reforms.
He added that the administration chose legality and fiscal responsibility over what he described as past abuses of process, insisting that no political pressure would derail the governor’s agenda for strengthening the state’s education sector.
