The Osun State Government has defended the extension of the tenure of the Vice-Chancellor of Osun State University (UNIOSUN), Professor Clement Odunayo Adebooye, arguing that the legality of the decision must be considered alongside the amendment of the university’s enabling law by the State House of Assembly.
The government was reacting to the position of the Committee of Pro-Chancellors of State-Owned Universities, COPSUN, which questioned the extension and urged Governor Ademola Adeleke to adhere strictly to the existing law governing the institution.
Speaking through the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, on Monday, the government said COPSUN’s position appeared to reflect an incomplete understanding of the constitutional and legislative framework governing UNIOSUN.
The government noted that UNIOSUN was established by the Osun State House of Assembly through the Osun State University Establishment Law, 2006, adding that the Constitution recognises the power of state legislatures to establish institutions for university, technological and professional education.
It said this did not remove legitimate federal regulation of university standards, accreditation and professional requirements but cautioned against equating such regulatory functions with the statutory governance of a state-owned university.
On COPSUN’s reliance on the Universities (Miscellaneous Provisions) Amendment Act, 2012, the government said the key issue was whether the relevant provisions of the federal law applied to UNIOSUN in a manner capable of overriding its enabling law.
It acknowledged that a valid federal law prevails over an inconsistent state law to the extent of the inconsistency but maintained that the constitutional competence and scope of the federal enactment must first be established.
The government also pointed to the Osun State House of Assembly’s consideration and passage of the Osun State University Establishment Amendment Bill, 2026.
It said the development made it inaccurate to portray the tenure extension as a unilateral executive alteration of the university’s governing law.
“While the Visitor could not amend legislation by executive declaration, neither could a professional body or staff union legislate through a public statement,” the government said.
It maintained that the relevant question was whether the legislative process undertaken by the State House of Assembly and the subsequent statutory arrangements were constitutionally and legally valid.
The government further clarified that Adebooye’s existing tenure runs until January 2027, while the proposed additional tenure is scheduled to commence on January 4, 2027.
It stressed that the arrangement therefore does not retrospectively alter an already completed tenure.
Governor Adeleke had earlier said the extension was intended to sustain continuity at the university and was based on its academic and infrastructural development under Adebooye. The governor said 40 major building projects had been constructed and commissioned at the institution in the past four years.
COPSUN, however, had described the extension as contrary to the existing legal framework and resolved to formally notify Adeleke, as Visitor to the university, of its position.
Discussion0