The Osun State Government has cleared outstanding salary arrears owed to workers of the state-owned University of Ilesa (UNILESA).
Management of the institution confirmed that Governor Ademola Adeleke released N3 billion to offset the backlog of unpaid salaries owed to staff of the university. The governor also approved the regularisation of about 300 casual workers, granting them permanent employment.
Speaking with journalists during a briefing to commemorate the institution’s third anniversary, themed “Three Years of Purposeful Leadership, Growth and Institutional Transformation,” the Vice Chancellor, Taiwo Asaolu, commended Adeleke for the administration’s support since the university was established.
Asaolu also disclosed that no fewer than 3,661 students of the university benefited from the Nigeria Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) in 2026.
According to him, the institution currently has a student population of about 15,000, with 3,661 students benefiting from the federal government’s NELFUND initiative. He added that Governor Adeleke also approved a tuition-free policy for students in the Faculties of Education and Agriculture.
The Vice Chancellor noted that the current management inherited dilapidated and obsolete facilities, demoralised staff, a dwindling student population of fewer than 1,000, overgrown surroundings and poor infrastructure.
However, he said the institution has since recorded significant progress and now runs 97 academic programmes, all of which have been approved by the National Universities Commission.
“We inherited over 300 staff on temporary appointments from the defunct Osun State College of Education, Ilesa. Many of them had been in such unfortunate and inhumane conditions, receiving salaries of less than N25,000 per month. Those on permanent appointment were also owed several allowances. When we assumed duty, agitations from these staff constituted a major setback to the smooth take-off of the University.
“The Governor rose to the occasion and provided lasting solutions: all temporary staff were granted permanent appointments, and all outstanding allowances owed to permanent staff, amounting to over Three Billion Naira (₦3billion) only, were fully paid. Retired staff of the defunct College and next-of-kin of deceased staff also benefited from this payment.”
He equally confirmed that “Within the last three years, the University has enjoyed tremendous support from TETFund, Owa Obokun, Oba Clement Haastrup, the Ijesa Community, among others. You will see the various projects funded or donated by them during your guided tour of the campus.”
Speaking about the accommodation for students, he said TETFund released over N750million for the school, while about N2 billion has been made available for the construction of hostels.
