Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Osun State House of Assembly has passed an amendment to the law establishing the Osun State University, effectively rewriting the institution's founding statute to accommodate a two-year extension of the Vice-Chancellor's tenure. The move, which has sparked widespread criticism from academic staff, comes just days after Governor Ademola Adeleke announced the extension of Professor Clement Adebooye's tenure, despite a clear provision in the existing law that bars any reappointment.
The amendment bill, which scaled third reading on Thursday, September 3, 2026, now awaits the governor's assent to become law. Speaker of the House, Adewale Egbedun, presided over the plenary session where the bill was passed after clause-by-clause consideration by the Committee of the Whole. The legislation amends the Osun State University Establishment Law, 2006, which originally stipulated that the Vice-Chancellor shall hold office for a single term of five years and shall not be eligible for reappointment.
The controversy began earlier this week when Governor Adeleke, during the inauguration of the university's Governing Council, announced a two-year extension for Professor Adebooye. The announcement immediately drew sharp criticism from the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), UNIOSUN chapter, whose chairman, Dr Wende Olaosebikan, stated that the union had studied the law and found no provision for such an extension. "The UNIOSUN Establishment Law gives room for extension of one year to the University's Librarian, the Bursar and the Registrar. But that privilege excludes the Vice-Chancellor," Olaosebikan said.
Despite the backlash, the Assembly moved swiftly to amend the law. Presenting the policy thrust of the bill, the Chairman of the House Committee on Education, Sikiru Bajepade, said the proposed amendment would not only extend the Vice-Chancellor's tenure but also provide a framework for grants and scholarships for students, strengthen public interest in the university, and support its continued development.
Lawmakers who supported the bill argued that the university had recorded significant development during Professor Adebooye's five-year tenure and that the extension would sustain progress, improve staff welfare, and ensure institutional stability. Deputy Majority Leader Adekunle Oladimeji moved the motion for the bill's passage, which was seconded by Lawrence Adeoti.
However, the timing of the amendment has raised serious questions about the rule of law and the autonomy of academic institutions. Critics argue that the executive action was taken before the legislative amendment, effectively breaking the law first and then seeking to legalize the breach. ASUU has maintained that it will only react to the development once it is formally confirmed, but the union's position is clear: the law, as it stands, does not permit what the governor has done.
With the bill now passed, all eyes are on Governor Adeleke, who is expected to give his assent. If signed into law, the amendment will retroactively validate the extension, effectively rewriting the rules of engagement for UNIOSUN's leadership. But for many academics and observers, the damage has already been done. The message, they say, is that in Nigeria, the law is not a shield but a door that can be unlocked when power demands entry.
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