A silent crisis is rocking Osun State under the administration of Governor Ademola Adeleke over teachers’ recruitment exercise announced by the governor, last Wednesday.
The governor was said to have directed the state Commissioner for Education, Mr Dipo Eluwole; Chairman, Teaching Service Commission (TESCOM); Mr Temitope Adeyemi; and Chairman, Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Mr Ibukun Fadipe, to dispatch letters of appointment to 2,500 teachers into TESCOM and SUBEB.
But the development is causing ripples within the fold of the SUBEB and TESCOM, as it was alleged that the state Head of Service (HoS), Mr. Ayanleye Aina, is “strongly opposing the governor’s decision on the employment of teachers.”
Senator Adeleke had directed distribution of letters of appointment to the first batch of newly-recruited teachers in the state.
Adeleke gave the directive while speaking at the Commendation and Solidarity Parade organised by the Stay-in-School Initiative at St. Charles Grammar School, Osogbo, the state capital.
However, the Head of Service was said to have advised against the governor’s directive on teachers’ recruitment drive in the state.
The advice was however seen in some circles within the government as a step could adversely affect “the good work of Senator Ademola Adeleke in the state.”
A senior female civil servant in the state Ministry of Education who craved anonymity, said: “distribution of appointment letters is yet to be resolved under the administration.
“This is because the Head of Service is always giving ill-advice to the governor on the appointment, hinging it on the financial situation of the state.”
She further alleged that “the HoS is misleading the government of the state on the altar of paucity of funds. He is aware of thousands of people earlier employed by the past administration, but dumped by the government.
“Why is this new directive to give these new 2,500 people letters of appointment is being attempted to be thwarted by the Head of Service? This may be dangerous for the Adeleke-led administration.
“You know our boss is not a politician; he does not understand the political implications of reversing the governor’s speech delivered openly in an event, especially on issues bordering on politics and livelihood of the people.
“This looks like an attempt to set up a booby trap for the Governor Ademola Adeleke administration in Osun State.”
Recalled that about 22,000 people in the state applied for teaching service in the state about three years ago. But they are not yet employed by the government, as a result of an alleged financial crisis the state is witnessing currently.
However, residents of Osun State have lauded the governor’s directive on the proposed teachers’ recruitments, noting that it would give credence to his service in the state.
