The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Osun State University chapter, has faulted the two-year extension of the tenure of the institution’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Clement Adebooye, by Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, raising concerns over the legal basis for the decision.
The union maintained that the Osun State University Establishment Law did not provide for the extension of the tenure of a Vice-Chancellor, unlike provisions made for some other principal officers of the institution.
The UNIOSUN ASUU Chairman, Dr Wande Olaosebikan, said the union had examined relevant provisions of the law and found that tenure extension was expressly provided for the Registrar, Bursar and Librarian but not for the Vice-Chancellor.
According to Olaosebikan, the union would not immediately take action based solely on reports circulating in the media, as it was still awaiting confirmation on whether Adebooye had formally accepted the offer.
The ASUU chairman said the matter was discussed during the union’s congress, where members reviewed the laws governing the administration and management of the university.
The controversy followed Governor Adeleke’s announcement that he had approved a two-year extension for Adebooye after the expiration of his initial five-year tenure.
The governor announced the decision during the inauguration of the reconstituted Governing Council of UNIOSUN in Osogbo.
Adeleke said the decision was taken in the interest of the university and was intended to strengthen governance, ensure continuity and prevent a leadership vacuum that could affect the administration of the institution.
The governor also disclosed that Adebooye initially declined the offer before eventually accepting the additional two-year tenure.
Describing the university as one of the enduring investments of the people of Osun State, Adeleke said the decision was aimed at protecting the institution’s stability and sustaining its progress.
However, the development has generated fresh debate over whether the governor had the legal authority to extend the tenure of a sitting Vice-Chancellor under the existing UNIOSUN Establishment Law.
The matter subsequently received legislative attention, with the Osun State House of Assembly moving to amend the law establishing the university to provide a legal framework for the extension.
The Assembly passed the Osun State University Establishment Amendment Bill 2026 during plenary following deliberations by lawmakers.
The bill was reportedly introduced following a letter from Governor Adeleke dated July 27, 2026, seeking amendments to the legislation governing the university.
The House Committee on Education said the proposed amendment would also provide a framework for grants and scholarships for students.
The amendment effectively created provisions for the extension of the Vice-Chancellor’s tenure and provided legislative backing for the governor’s decision.
Before the passage of the bill, lawmakers reportedly dissolved into a Committee of the Whole to undertake further consideration of the proposed legislation.
The development has placed renewed attention on the governance structure of state-owned universities and the legal procedures guiding the appointment and tenure of principal officers.
While the state government has defended the extension as necessary to ensure continuity and institutional stability, ASUU’s position signals that the issue may continue to generate debate within the university community.
The union’s next line of action is expected to depend on confirmation of the Vice-Chancellor’s acceptance of the extension and further developments regarding the amended UNIOSUN Establishment Law.
The situation also raises broader questions about the balance between executive authority, university autonomy and the legal frameworks governing the leadership of Nigeria’s public universities.
