Osun government responds to criticisms over UNIOSUN VC's tenure extension

The Osun State Government has rejected claims that extending the tenure of the Vice-Chancellor of Osun State University (UNIOSUN), Clement Adebooye, is illegal. The government says the committee's view needs more legal clarification.

The Committee of Pro-Chancellors of State-Owned Universities (COPSUN) questioned the two-year extension of Mr Adebooye’s tenure. They argued that his five-year term cannot be extended by an executive order from Governor Ademola Adeleke, who is the university’s visitor.

The committee stated that the extension goes against the current legal framework. They urged Mr Adeleke to follow the Universities (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 2012, as amended. They also called on the university’s pro-chancellor to ensure due process is followed.

On Monday, the state government issued a statement signed by the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Oluomo Alimi. The government said COPSUN’s position seems to come from an incomplete understanding of the laws governing the state-owned university.

The government pointed out that UNIOSUN was established under an Osun State law created by the House of Assembly in 2006. They argued that having federal regulations over universities does not mean that state-owned universities must follow federal rules.

The key legal question is whether the Universities (Miscellaneous Provisions) Amendment Act, 2012, applies to UNIOSUN in a way that can change its enabling state law. “While the constitutional principle of a valid federal law prevails over a conflicting state law, the constitutional competence and scope of the federal enactment must first be established,” the statement said.

This situation is the latest in the debate about Mr Adebooye’s tenure. It began when Governor Adeleke announced in August that the Vice-Chancellor would stay in office for two more years after his term ends in January 2027. This announcement was made during the inauguration of the university’s new Governing Council in Osogbo.

The governor mentioned that the extension would start on 4 January 2027. He said it was backed by an amendment to the Osun State University Establishment Law that the State House of Assembly passed. Despite the criticisms of the VC’s tenure extension, Mr Alimi stated that with the new law in place, it is not correct to say the extension is just an executive decision by Mr Adeleke.

Mr Adeleke had justified the extension by highlighting the progress of the university under Mr Adebooye. He pointed to improvements in infrastructure, student enrolment, medical education, staff welfare, and other successes. “The governor also explained at the University’s 16th Convocation that the extension followed consultations and legislative action regarding the University’s enabling law,” he added.

Mr Alimi mentioned that the State House of Assembly had examined and passed the Osun State University Establishment Amendment Bill 2026. This bill changed the legal framework for the university. The Assembly passed the bill after thorough consideration in September, allowing it to go to the governor for approval.

The government said this legislative action is key because the Visitor cannot change laws through an executive order. COPSUN or any other professional body also cannot make laws through public statements. “The main issue is whether the legislative process by the State House of Assembly and the following statutory arrangements are legally valid,” the government stated.

The government added that Mr Adebooye’s current tenure is valid until January 2027. The new tenure will begin on 4 January 2027. They argued that this arrangement does not change a tenure that has already ended.

COPSUN raised its objections after its 73rd quarterly meeting in Ibadan, Oyo State. The committee expressed wider concerns about university governance and what they call growing interference by professional bodies. Regarding UNIOSUN, they reported that Mr Adebooye’s five-year tenure was extended by two years through an executive order.

They questioned the legality of changing the university law to allow for this extension and urged the governor to stick to the legal framework. The committee also referenced the Universities (Miscellaneous Provisions) Amendment Act, 2012. This act changed the federal law governing universities and set limits on the terms of principal officers to just one five-year term.

The issue started with the original UNIOSUN law, which stated that the Vice-Chancellor would serve for five years without a chance for reappointment. The state government, however, argued that simply citing federal law does not resolve the issue. They said it must first be determined whether federal laws apply to UNIOSUN in a way that changes its state laws.

The disagreement over Mr Adebooye’s tenure has also drawn criticism from the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU). They argued that the law under which he was appointed only allows for a single five-year term without an extension. The union also questioned the timing of the law amendment while Mr Adebooye was nearing the end of his original tenure.

Meanwhile, the state government insists on going ahead with the extension. They say their decision follows the university’s governance law and that the House of Assembly has used its legislative powers by amending the relevant parts. The latest statement from the government now puts COPSUN at the center of this legal disagreement. The state argues that the committee’s objections cannot be seen as the final decision on the legality of the extension.