Osun Warns UNIOSUN Community as ASUU Challenges VC Tenure Extension

(Vice-Chancellor of Osun State University, Prof. Clement Adebooye. Photo Credit: Punch News)

The Osun State Government has asked members of Osun State University to avoid actions that could cause tension at the institution following a dispute over the Vice-Chancellor's tenure extension.

The national leadership of the Academic Staff Union of Universities has opposed the decision to extend the tenure of Vice-Chancellor Prof. Clement Adebooye by two years.

The government, through Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment Kolapo Alimi, disagreed with ASUU's position on the extension.

ASUU had issued a statement after a meeting saying Governor Senator Ademola Nurudeen Jackson Adeleke's extension of Prof. Clement Adebooye's tenure violated university law.

The union told its branch at the university to respond to what it called a violation of the law and said it would send a team to the university within two weeks to address the issue.

The government said it respects staff unions' right to express views on university matters.

However, it stressed that the university is governed by law and the responsibilities of the Visitor, the Governing Council and other university bodies.

The government said the decision was not made arbitrarily or outside proper procedures.

It noted that Prof. Clement Adebooye's current tenure does not end until January 2027, so the government has not made any retroactive decision.

The government explained that after Governor Adeleke, as Visitor to the university, made the decision, the state legislature began amending the university law to provide the legal framework for the tenure extension.

The Osun State House of Assembly passed the amendment after considering it.

The government said it was inaccurate to portray the matter as if the Visitor acted alone or ignored the university's governing framework.

It said the Visitor acted within the law because the legislature, which has constitutional power, amended the enabling law.

The government warned against attempts to create crisis or instability around a matter that has gone through proper government and legislative processes.

It said no staff union, including ASUU, has the authority to tell the Visitor or the Governing Council how to exercise their lawful powers.

The government said the university is governed by its law, not by how any union interprets it.

It noted that the Governing Council is the proper body for matters within its responsibility and the Visitor exercises powers given to that office by university law.

Governor Adeleke urged all members of the university community to avoid actions, statements or campaigns that could cause needless tension at an institution focused on teaching, research, innovation and community service.