The resignation of two board members overseeing public education in Oyo State has drawn fresh attention to the leadership of the state’s education agencies, as four political appointees quit Governor Seyi Makinde’s administration on Monday.
Afolabi Olusola Joshua, a member of the Oyo State Teaching Service Commission (TESCOM), and Agbejimi Oladoja Rebecca, a member of the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), were among the four officials who submitted resignation letters dated October 19, 2026. Both said their decisions took immediate effect but did not disclose their reasons for leaving.
The other departing appointees were Adeyanju Noah Olusola, a member of the Governing Council of Michael Adeniyi Koleosho Polytechnic, Saki, and Adegbola Suleiman Abiodun, a supervisory councillor in Ogbomoso South Local Government Area.
The departures bring to 12 the reported number of political appointees who have recently resigned from the Makinde administration. The latest exits follow the resignation of Otunba Segun Ogunwuyi as Chief of Staff to the governor a week earlier.
Although the education officials did not link their decisions to the government’s policies, their departures come at a time when questions about the quality, safety and capacity of Oyo’s public education system remain important to the state’s education agenda.
Joshua, in his resignation letter, thanked Makinde for the opportunity to serve on TESCOM, describing the appointment as an honour and a chance to contribute to the state’s education sector. He said he remained proud of his contributions to the commission and wished the government success.
Rebecca similarly expressed appreciation for the confidence placed in her and acknowledged the support she received from SUBEB’s chairman, board members, management, staff and other stakeholders. She described her time on the board as an opportunity to contribute to the development of the agency.
Neither official publicly stated why they were stepping down.
TESCOM is responsible for matters relating to teaching personnel in public secondary schools, while SUBEB oversees basic education administration in the state. Their boards therefore occupy important positions in decisions affecting teachers, school operations and the delivery of education to pupils.
The latest resignations provide no direct evidence of a policy dispute or a breakdown in the two agencies. However, they come amid broader concerns about whether public schools have enough classrooms, teachers and safe learning environments to meet pupils’ needs.
Figures cited in the supplied material put the average number of pupils per classroom in Oyo at 101, compared with 36 in Ogun and 31 in Osun. The figures require verification against comparable, up-to-date state data before firm conclusions can be drawn about the relative classroom pressures facing the three states.
School safety has also been a concern. A teachers’ strike reportedly took place in Oyo in June and July 2026 following the abduction of teachers and pupils, raising questions about the security of school communities and the disruption of learning. The duration and effects of the disruption would need to be established through official records and accounts from affected schools.
The other two departing appointees also expressed appreciation for their opportunities to serve. Adeyanju said he remained committed to the continued growth of Michael Adeniyi Koleosho Polytechnic, while Adegbola’s resignation as supervisory councillor was addressed to the chairman of Ogbomoso South Local Government Area.
Other recent departures reportedly include former Commissioner of Police Fatai Owoseni, who served as Special Adviser on Security; Babatunde Oduyoye, a member of the Oyo State Advisory Council; Funmi Arulogun, Senior Special Assistant on Diaspora Matters; Tara Adefope, Director-General of the Due Process Office; Damilare Gideon Amusan, chairman of the Board of the College of Agriculture, Igboora; and former lawmaker Peter Oyetunji.
For Oyo’s education sector, the immediate issue is whether TESCOM and SUBEB will maintain effective oversight and continuity following the exits. The state’s performance will ultimately depend on measurable progress in teacher support, classroom capacity, school safety and pupils’ learning outcomes, alongside clear accountability for the delivery of education programmes.
