Youth group urges ASUU, Osun govt to resolve UNIOSUN VC crisis

The Southern Youth Forum has called for dialogue between the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and the Osun State Government over the controversy surrounding the tenure extension of the Vice-Chancellor of Osun State University, Prof. Clement Adebooye.

The socio-cultural group urged stakeholders in the university community to prioritise peace and the interests of students while resolving the disagreement over the decision to extend Adebooye’s tenure by two years.

The National President of the group, Olajide Olakunle, made the appeal while addressing journalists in Osogbo on Thursday.

Olakunle said the group decided to intervene after considering the possible consequences of a prolonged disagreement within the institution, particularly its impact on students and academic activities.

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He appealed to the leadership of ASUU at UNIOSUN to embrace dialogue and allow the relevant authorities to address the matter in accordance with the provisions of the law establishing the university.

The controversy followed Governor Ademola Adeleke’s decision, in his capacity as Visitor to the university, to extend Adebooye’s tenure by two years.

ASUU had rejected the extension, alleging that it violated provisions of the university’s enabling law and the 2025 Federal Government-ASUU agreement.

Following an emergency National Executive Council meeting held in Abuja on September 5, the union directed its UNIOSUN branch to mobilise against what it described as a flagrant violation of the relevant legal provisions.

ASUU also constituted a visitation team to engage the university administration, governing council and the Visitor in an effort to resolve the dispute within two weeks.

Responding to the union’s position, the Osun State Government said it respected the right of recognised staff unions to express their views on issues concerning the university’s administration and welfare.

The government, however, maintained that the administration of UNIOSUN was governed by law, with statutory responsibilities assigned to the Visitor, governing council and other organs of the institution.

It also rejected suggestions that the Vice-Chancellor’s tenure extension was imposed arbitrarily or outside the due process established by law.

The Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, said the existing tenure of Adebooye remained valid until January 2027.

According to Alimi, “the current tenure of the vice-chancellor subsists until January 2027,” adding that the government had therefore not taken any retroactive decision regarding his tenure.

The government explained that following the Visitor’s decision, the Osun State House of Assembly commenced and completed the process of amending the UNIOSUN Establishment Law to provide a statutory basis for the tenure extension.

Olakunle urged ASUU to respect constituted authority and avoid actions capable of creating division, saying, “We must consider the negative implications of crises, especially on the students, who belong to our own group. Laws should be respected.”

He added, “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.”

The youth leader also appealed for the continuation of peace at UNIOSUN, saying, “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.”

Olakunle also highlighted projects and academic expansion recorded under Adebooye, claiming that 35 building projects and 28 laboratories had been constructed or renovated across the university’s campuses.

He stated that the number of bachelor’s degree programmes had increased from 66 to 128 in about four years, while the university’s student population rose from approximately 14,600 to 42,348.

The Southern Youth Forum consequently urged ASUU, the state government, the university management and other stakeholders to use dialogue and the applicable legal framework to resolve the disagreement.

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