OUR attention has been drawn to the news published by the Punch Newspaper on the 22nd of October, 2019: “State universities face hard times as Governors cut subventions.” The management of Osun State University hereby disassociates itself from the section credited to the University in the publication. Dr Femi Abanikanda spoke in his characteristic manner as ASUU chairman, and his views should not be taken as representing that of the management, given his vague knowledge of the university administration. He is not the university Bursar and not the official spokesperson of the university, as such the management views his comment as malicious and unrepresentative of the true situation.
The university is being funded within the available resources of the State Government, and there is no crisis between the state government, the former Governor, the current Governor and the University. Monthly subventions are released as and when due within the limits of available resources, and IGR-funded capital projects are ongoing on all the campuses without any let or hindrance.
We like to place it on record that contrary to the statement, UNIOSUN, unlike some state Universities, is not struggling to survive. It is apposite to state that UNIOSUN enjoyed autonomy over the years and the state apparatus did not at any time disturb the university in its utilization of the internally generated revenue, which with all intent and purposes is public fund. Throughout the eight years of Governor Rauf Aregbesola and till date, the University with the concurrence of the state government has embarked on several building projects like the University Central Library, the Engineering complex, both on the main campus, the pre-degree complex in Ejigbo, and other structures across the six campuses among others.
While the university acknowledges the interventions from TETFUND, Federal Ministry of Education and other donors, the above-named projects and the procurement of much-needed equipment and facilities as well as funding of academic departments and sponsorship of staff members to conferences and trainings were funded through IGR which again is considered as public funds by the university management.
Furthermore, we view the publication as mischievous, given the fact that the punch journalist chose to abandon the information provided by the university by publishing unverified information from ASUU Chairman at UNIOSUN.
Signed:
G.A.A. Shittu
Registrar and Secretary to Council.