The Osun State Government has defended the decision surrounding the tenure of the Vice-Chancellor of Osun State University (UNIOSUN), Professor Clement Odunayo Adebooye, insisting that the institution is governed by law and not by the preferences or interpretations of any staff union.
In a statement signed by the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Oluomo Kolapo Alimi, the government responded to recent concerns raised by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), including reports that the union planned to deploy a team to Osogbo over the extension of the Vice-Chancellor's tenure.
According to the government, while ASUU remains a recognized stakeholder with the responsibility of protecting the welfare and professional interests of academic staff, the union does not possess the statutory authority to determine or direct the governance of the university.
The statement emphasized that the administration of Osun State University is guided by its enabling law and the clearly defined responsibilities of the Visitor to the University, the Governing Council, and other legally constituted organs.
The government rejected suggestions that the decision regarding the Vice-Chancellor's tenure was arbitrary or outside due process, noting that Professor Adebooye's current tenure remains valid until January 2027.
It further explained that Governor Ademola Adeleke, in his capacity as Visitor to the University, acted within the framework of his constitutional and statutory responsibilities. Following the Visitor's decision, the Osun State House of Assembly reportedly commenced and completed the process of amending the Osun State University Establishment Law to provide the legal basis for the tenure extension.
According to the government, the legislative amendment underwent due consideration and scrutiny before being passed by the Assembly, making it inaccurate to suggest that the Visitor acted independently or outside the law.
"The Visitor cannot be said to have acted outside the law where the competent legislative authority has exercised its constitutional legislative function to amend the enabling law," the statement noted.
The government also stressed that legislative bodies retain the authority to review and amend existing laws through established procedures, arguing that the existence of previous provisions on the Vice-Chancellor's tenure does not prevent lawful amendments by the State Legislature.
While cautioning against what it described as attempts to create an atmosphere of crisis or institutional instability, the government maintained that no union has the authority to substitute its judgment for that of the Visitor, the Governing Council, or the State Legislature.
It urged members of the university community to avoid actions capable of generating unnecessary tension, particularly as the institution prepares for its forthcoming 16th Convocation Ceremonies and other academic activities.
The Osun State Government reiterated its commitment to the rule of law, due process, institutional stability, and constructive engagement with all recognized unions and stakeholders. It also called on all parties to allow the statutory organs of the university to perform their responsibilities without undue pressure or misrepresentation.
The statement concluded by affirming that the governance of Osun State University remains firmly anchored on legal and institutional frameworks, rather than the unilateral position of any interest group.
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