OSOGBO — Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has cautioned members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Osun State University (UNIOSUN) branch, against proceeding with a planned protest over the two-year extension of the tenure of the institution’s Vice Chancellor, Prof. Clement Adebooye.

The governor’s warning followed criticism from sections of the university community over the decision to extend Adebooye’s tenure, with opponents arguing that the move contravenes the existing law governing the institution.

INEC Seeks Oba Akiolu’s Support to Mobilise Lagos Voters for 2027 Elections

The state government, however, maintained that the decision was taken within the framework of the statutory powers of the Visitor to the university and subsequent legislative intervention by the Osun State House of Assembly.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, said the governor respected the right of recognised university staff unions to express their views but warned against actions capable of creating tension within the institution.

Government Defends Tenure Extension

The government said the administration of UNIOSUN was regulated by law and the clearly defined responsibilities of the Visitor, Governing Council and other statutory organs of the university.

According to Alimi, ASUU has an important role to play in protecting the welfare and professional interests of academic staff, but the union does not have the statutory authority to determine or override powers vested in the Visitor, Governing Council or the state legislature.

The commissioner said the government was responding to what it described as an impression that the decision to extend the Vice Chancellor’s tenure was arbitrary or outside due process.

He explained that the current tenure of Prof. Adebooye would subsist until January 2027, stressing that the government had not taken any retroactive action regarding his tenure.

“The decision by His Excellency, Senator Ademola Adeleke, as Visitor to Osun State University, must be understood within the context of the constitutional and statutory responsibilities of the Visitor and the subsequent legislative intervention by the Osun State House of Assembly,” Alimi said.

Assembly’s Legislative Intervention

The government further pointed to a new bill passed by the Osun State House of Assembly, which provides for the possibility of extending the tenure of the university’s Vice Chancellor by the governor.

Alimi maintained that the Governing Council remained the appropriate statutory organ for matters within its jurisdiction, while the Visitor exercises powers assigned to that office under the university’s enabling framework.

He stressed that staff unions were important stakeholders in the university system but could not substitute their judgment for that of legally constituted statutory bodies.

“No staff union, including ASUU, has the statutory authority to teach the Visitor or the governing council how to exercise powers lawfully vested in them,” the commissioner said.

Adeleke Warns Against Tension

The state government consequently cautioned against what it described as attempts to create an atmosphere of crisis, illegality or institutional instability around the tenure issue.

Alimi said the governor was concerned about any mobilisation or statements capable of disrupting the university’s academic environment.

“The Osun State government therefore finds it necessary to caution against attempts to create an unnecessary atmosphere of crisis, illegality or institutional instability around a matter that has been subjected to the appropriate governmental and legislative processes,” he said.

He urged members of the university community, including ASUU members, to refrain from actions capable of creating needless tension.

“The governor consequently urges all members of the university community to refrain from actions, statements or mobilisations capable of creating needless tension in an institution that has remained focused on its core mandates of teaching, research, innovation and community service,” Alimi added.

The development is expected to generate further debate within UNIOSUN, particularly over the interpretation of the university’s enabling law and the extent of the powers of the Visitor and other statutory organs in determining the tenure of its Vice Chancellor.

SEO Keywords: