The Osun State Government has warned members of the Osun State University community against actions capable of creating tension at the institution following a dispute over the two-year extension of the tenure of the university’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Clement Adebooye.
The warning followed opposition by the Academic Staff Union of Universities, UNIOSUN chapter, to the extension approved by Governor Ademola Adeleke, who is also the Visitor to the university.
ASUU had argued that the extension was inconsistent with the university’s enabling law and called on its branch at UNIOSUN to respond to what it described as a violation of the law. The union also said its national leadership would send a team to the university within two weeks to address the matter.
Responding to the development, the state Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, said the government respected the right of staff unions to express their views but disagreed with ASUU’s interpretation of the process.
Alimi said the extension was not an arbitrary decision and that it had gone through the appropriate government and legislative processes. According to the government, Adebooye’s current tenure does not expire until January 2027, while the Osun State House of Assembly has amended the university law to provide the legal framework for the extension.
The government further maintained that the Visitor, the Governing Council and other statutory bodies have defined responsibilities under the university’s legal framework. It said no staff union had the authority to dictate to the Visitor or Governing Council how their lawful powers should be exercised.
Governor Adeleke subsequently urged members of the university community to avoid statements, campaigns or actions that could generate unnecessary tension and disrupt the institution’s core responsibilities of teaching, research, innovation and community service.
The dispute comes as UNIOSUN continues to highlight recent academic and institutional achievements under Adebooye’s administration. The university’s official website currently identifies Prof. Odunayo Clement Adebooye as Vice-Chancellor and says the institution is focused on academic innovation, skills development, research and global competitiveness.
ASUU’s challenge has therefore introduced a fresh dispute over the interpretation of the university’s governing law and the powers of the Visitor, with both sides maintaining different positions on the legality of the tenure extension.
The development is being closely watched by staff and other members of the university community amid concerns that the disagreement could affect stability and academic activities if not resolved through dialogue and the appropriate institutional processes.
