By Erewunmi Peace

The Osun State Government has explained why Governor Ademola Adeleke recently directed the issuance of appointment letters to teachers who have been waiting since completing the recruitment process 23 months ago.

Governor Adeleke gave the directive to the Commissioner for Education, Mr. Dipo Eluwole, during an event in Osogbo, emphasising the need to finalise the process that began after he approved the recruitment of 5,000 teachers and 250 education officers in February 2024.

Reasons for Delay
According to reports, the decision to hasten the issuance of letters came amid plans by some successful applicants to protest the prolonged delay. A leadership writer noted that protest preparations by candidates were leaked to government officials, prompting authorities to act swiftly to prevent demonstrations.

Some teachers had voiced frustration on social media, saying they completed all recruitment steps — including written exams and interviews in 2024 — but had not received any appointment letters despite waiting nearly two years. Several applicants reportedly resigned from previous jobs in anticipation of the appointment.

The Osun State Government, through its spokesperson, said that implementation of the governor’s directive is ongoing and dismissed claims that top officials were blocking the process. The statement emphasised that neither the Head of Service nor the Chief of Staff was stalling the issuance of letters, attributing delays to administrative and financial considerations.

Government Response
In reaction to the agitation, the government reiterated its commitment to strengthening education in the state and assured the public that the recruitment process would be concluded transparently and in line with official procedures.

The issue has also drawn political commentary, with opposition parties questioning the timing and execution of the recruitment amid wider debates about personnel management in Osun’s education sector.