Group urges ASUU, govt dialogue over UNIOSUN VC crisis

File photo: Osun State University, Osogbo gate.

The leadership of the Southern Youth Forum, a socio-cultural group, has urged stakeholders in the affairs of the Osun State University, Osogbo, to consider the negative implications of disharmony and respect constituted authority regarding the two-year tenure extension granted to the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Clement Adebooye, by Governor Ademola Adeleke.

Addressing journalists in Osogbo on Thursday, the SYF National President, Olajide Olakunle, said the group decided to intervene after considering the implications of the crisis, especially on students.

He urged the leadership of the Academic Staff Union of the University to allow dialogue on the issue.

The PUNCH reports that ASUU, in a communiqué issued after an emergency National Executive Council meeting held in Abuja on September 5, declared that Adeleke’s extension of Adebooye’s tenure by two years violated the provisions of the university law.

The union subsequently mandated its UNIOSUN branch to mobilise and respond courageously to the alleged “flagrant violation of the Miscellaneous Act as amplified in the 2025 FGN-ASUU Agreement.”

The union also constituted a visitation team to the UNIOSUN branch to interact with the university administration, governing council and the visitor, “in a bid to address the infraction on the two-year extension of the tenure of the vice-chancellor within two weeks.”

Reacting to ASUU’s move, the state government, in a statement signed by the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, said it respected the right of every recognised staff union of the university to express its views on matters concerning the welfare and administration of the university.

It, however, stated that the governance of the Osun State University was regulated by law and clearly defined statutory responsibilities of the visitor, the governing council and other organs of the university.

It also said it was necessary to correct the impression that the decision concerning the vice-chancellor’s tenure was taken arbitrarily or outside the framework of due process.

“In the first place, the current tenure of the vice-chancellor subsists until January 2027, so the government has not taken any retroactive decision with respect to the tenure of the vice-chancellor.

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“The decision by His Excellency, Senator Ademola Nurudeen Jackson Adeleke, as Visitor to Osun State University, must be understood within the context of the constitutional and statutory responsibilities of the visitor and the subsequent legislative intervention by the Osun State House of Assembly.

“Following the visitor’s decision, the state legislature commenced the process of amending the Osun State University Establishment Law to provide the necessary statutory framework for the tenure extension.

“The amendment was subsequently considered and passed by the House of Assembly after legislative consideration of the relevant provisions,” the statement read.

Reviewing the situation while addressing journalists in Osogbo, Olakunle said the laws governing the institution should be respected, urging ASUU to resist external influence that might cause division in the university.

“I won’t end this address without appealing to the UNIOSUN ASUU to kindly allow the peace that has been existing in the university to continue, as the VC remains father to all and he will continue to practise the open-door policy he is known for.

“We must consider the negative implications of crises, especially on the students, who belong to our own group. Laws should be respected.

“ASUU should allow the constituted authority to manage the institution according to the laws governing the institution. External influences should be disregarded. The union should not cause crises over the matter,” Olakunle said.

Highlighting some of Adebooye’s achievements since becoming vice-chancellor, Olakunle said 35 building projects and 28 laboratories, among other facilities, had been created or renovated across all campuses of the university.

He further said that in about four years, the number of Bachelor’s degree programmes available at the university had increased from 66 to 128, leading to a rise in the student population from 14,600 to 42,348.