Osun State Fires Back: Adeleke's UNIOSUN VC Tenure Extension Is Lawful, Says Gov

The Osun State Government has thrown down the gauntlet at the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), insisting that Governor Ademola Adeleke's decision to extend the tenure of the Osun State University (UNIOSUN) Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Clement Adebooye, is fully backed by law. The government's strong response comes after ASUU's national leadership declared the two-year extension a violation of university statutes and ordered its members to mobilise against it.

In a statement signed by the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, the government made it clear that no union, not even ASUU, has the authority to dictate how the Visitor or the Governing Council exercises its lawful powers. This is a battle about who truly governs Nigeria's public universities, and Osun State is not backing down.

What is the ASUU vs Adeleke fight about?

ASUU, after an emergency National Executive Council meeting in Abuja on Saturday, September 5, declared that Adeleke's extension of Prof. Adebooye's tenure by two years violated the university's enabling law. The union cited the Miscellaneous Act and the 2025 FGN-ASUU Agreement, and mandated the UNIOSUN branch to respond courageously. They also set up a visitation team to address the issue within two weeks.

But the Osun State Government says this narrative is false and misleading. According to the government, the current tenure of the Vice-Chancellor runs until January 2027, meaning no retroactive decision was made. The extension was a deliberate, lawful process that involved both the Visitor's constitutional powers and the Osun State House of Assembly, which amended the Osun State University Establishment Law to provide the statutory framework.

Why the government says ASUU is out of line

The government's statement pulls no punches. It argues that the Visitor did not act in isolation and that the legislative arm of the state has already spoken. The House of Assembly considered and passed the amendment, making the extension a matter of law, not a unilateral power grab.

“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 University is governed by its enabling law, and not by the unilateral interpretation of any union or pressure group.”

This is a strong rebuke, positioning ASUU as a pressure group rather than a legitimate statutory body in this matter. The government also urged all members of the university community to avoid actions that could create needless tension in an institution focused on teaching, research, innovation, and community service.

What does this mean for Nigerian universities?

This clash is bigger than one university. It raises a critical question: who has the final say in the governance of federal and state universities in Nigeria? Is it the unions, the Visitors, or the law as amended by the legislature? The Osun State Government is making a sovereign statement that its laws, passed by its elected representatives, take precedence over union interpretations.

For pan-Africanists and supporters of strong national institutions, this is a moment to watch. The Adeleke administration is asserting its authority to govern without external or internal interference, a stance that resonates with the growing demand for African solutions to African challenges. The ball is now in ASUU's court, but the government has made it clear: the law is on their side.

Frequently asked questions about the UNIOSUN VC tenure extension

Why did Governor Adeleke extend the VC's tenure?

Governor Adeleke, as Visitor to UNIOSUN, exercised his statutory powers to extend Prof. Clement Adebooye's tenure by two years. The decision was backed by an amendment to the Osun State University Establishment Law passed by the Osun State House of Assembly.

Is ASUU's opposition legally justified?

The Osun State Government argues that ASUU's opposition is not legally justified because the tenure extension was formalised through a legislative amendment, making it lawful. The government insists no union has the authority to override the Visitor and the Governing Council.

When does the current VC tenure end?

Prof. Adebooye's current tenure runs until January 2027. The extension means he will remain in office for an additional two years beyond that date, subject to the amended law.

What happens next in this dispute?

ASUU has mandated its UNIOSUN branch to mobilise and has set up a visitation team. The government has urged calm and warned against actions that could destabilise the institution. The next steps will depend on whether ASUU escalates its response or accepts the legislative reality.