Osun Govt Faults Committee’s Position ON VC’s Tenure Extension

Osun State government has faulted the position of the Committee of Pro-Chancellors of State-Owned Universities (COPSUN) on the tenure extension of the vice-chancellor of Osun State University (UNIOSUN).

COPSUN had raised its concerns in a communique issued after its 73rd quarterly meeting in Ibadan, Oyo State and signed by its chairman, Prof. Ayodeji Omole.

The committee said it had received a report that the vice-chancellor’s tenure was extended by two years beyond the statutory five-year term through an executive pronouncement by the Visitor to the university, Governor Ademola Adeleke.

COPSUN, which declared the sate government’s decision to extend Prof. Clement Adebooye’s tenure by two years illegal, said it was contrary to the existing legal framework and should be reviewed in line with the law governing the university.

But the Osun government, through its Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Oluomo Kolapo Alimi, on Monday said the Committee’s position appeared to be based on an incomplete understanding of the constitutional and legislative framework governing UNIOSUN.

He noted that UNIOSUN was established by the Osun State House of Assembly through the Osun State University Establishment Law, 2006, adding that the 1999 Constitution places university education on the Concurrent Legislative List and recognises the power of State Houses of Assembly to establish institutions for university, technological and professional education.

On COPSUN’s reliance on the Universities (Miscellaneous Provisions) Amendment Act, 2012, Alimi said the critical legal question was whether the relevant provisions of the federal law applied to UNIOSUN in a manner capable of overriding the University’s enabling law.

He acknowledged the constitutional principle 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.

Alimi also drew the attention of COPSUN to the Osun State House of Assembly’s consideration and passage of the Osun State University Establishment Amendment Bill, 2026, saying the development made it inaccurate to portray the matter as a unilateral executive alteration of the University’s governing law.

He stressed that while the Visitor could not amend legislation by executive declaration, neither could a professional body or staff union legislate through a public statement.

According to him, the relevant issue is therefore whether the legislative process undertaken by the State House of Assembly and the subsequent statutory arrangements are constitutionally and legally valid.

The commissioner further clarified that the VC’s existing tenure runs until January 2027, while the proposed additional tenure is to commence on 4 January 2027, stressing that the arrangement does not retrospectively alter an already completed tenure.

He said the governor had also publicly explained at the University’s 16th Convocation that the extension followed consultations and legislative action concerning the University’s enabling law.