Osun govt, ASUU clash over UNIOSUN VC tenure extension
The Osun State Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, have disagreed over the extension of the tenure of the Vice-Chancellor of Osun State University, UNIOSUN, Professor Clement Odunayo Adebooye, with the government insisting that the decision was made within the law while the union has faulted the process.
The dispute followed Governor Ademola Adeleke’s approval of a two-year extension for Prof Adebooye, whose current tenure, according to the state government, remains valid until January 2027.
ASUU subsequently criticised the extension, arguing that it violated provisions of the Universities Miscellaneous Act referenced in the 2025 Federal Government-ASUU Agreement.
The union reached the position at an Emergency National Executive Council meeting held on Saturday, September 5, 2026, at the Festus Iyayi National Secretariat of the University of Abuja.
A communiqué signed by ASUU President, Christopher Piwuna, stated that the union had directed the UNIOSUN branch to mobilise its members against a violation of the law.
ASUU in the communique mandated the branch to “go back and mobilise to respond courageously to the flagrant violation of the Miscellaneous Act.”
The union also resolved to constitute a visitation team to Osogbo within two weeks to investigate the circumstances surrounding the extension.
According to ASUU, “the team would engage the university administration, Governing Council and Governor Adeleke in an effort to resolve the dispute.”
The union said it would also seek the reversal of the tenure extension during its engagements with the relevant authorities.
ASUU also resolved to issue a strong public statement on the matter and said it would resist the illegality at UNIOSUN.
Responding to the union’s position, the Osun State Government said the university’s governance was guided by statutory provisions and not the preferences of any staff union.
The government said it respected the right of recognised university unions to express their views on welfare and administrative matters but stressed that ASUU could not assume the responsibilities assigned by law to the Visitor, Governing Council or State House of Assembly.
The statement, signed by the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, said “the government considered it necessary to correct the impression that the decision was taken arbitrarily.
“The current tenure of the Vice Chancellor subsists until January 2027. The government had not taken a retroactive decision concerning Adebooye’s tenure.”
According to the government, “Governor Adeleke’s decision as Visitor was followed by legislative action by the Osun State House of Assembly to amend the UNIOSUN Establishment Law.”
The government said the amendment bill was considered and passed by the House of Assembly after legislative scrutiny of the relevant provisions, thereby providing a statutory framework for the tenure extension.
“It is therefore inaccurate to portray the matter as though the Visitor acted in isolation or that the University’s governing framework has been disregarded,” the statement said.
The government also distinguished between interpreting an existing law and the Legislature’s authority to amend it, arguing that an earlier provision on the Vice-Chancellor’s tenure did not permanently prevent lawmakers from reviewing the law.
It added that the Governing Council remained responsible for matters within its statutory jurisdiction, while the Visitor exercised powers assigned to the office under the university’s enabling framework.
While calling for engagement within the boundaries of the law, mutual respect and UNIOSUN’s established governance structure, the government urged ASUU and other stakeholders to allow the relevant statutory institutions to perform their duties.