Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has cautioned members of the Osun State University branch of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) against their planned protest over the two-year extension of the tenure of the institution’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Clement Adebooye.

The governor had approved the tenure extension, a decision that attracted criticism from some quarters over alleged inconsistency with the university’s enabling law.

However, a new bill passed by the Osun State House of Assembly reportedly empowers the governor to extend the tenure of the vice-chancellor.

In a statement, the state Commissioner for Information, Kolapo Alimi, said the governor recognised the right of staff unions to express their views on issues concerning the welfare and administration of the university.

He, however, said ASUU lacked the statutory authority to determine or direct how powers vested in the Visitor, governing council or the State House of Assembly should be exercised.

“The governor respects the right of every recognised staff union of the university to express its views on matters concerning the welfare and administration of the university,” Alimi said.

He explained that the governance of Osun State University was regulated by law and the statutory responsibilities assigned to the Visitor, governing council and other organs of the institution.

According to him, the current tenure of the vice-chancellor remains valid until January 2027, meaning the government did not take any retroactive decision on his tenure.

Alimi said the governor’s decision should be viewed within the context of his statutory responsibilities as Visitor and the subsequent legislative intervention by the State House of Assembly.

“The decision by His Excellency, Senator Ademola 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,” he said.

The commissioner cautioned against actions capable of creating tension or institutional instability, stressing that the university should remain focused on its core mandates of teaching, research, innovation and community service.

He added that while staff unions remained important stakeholders, they could not substitute the statutory roles of the governing council, Visitor or other organs established by law.

Alimi urged members of the university community to refrain from statements or mobilisations capable of creating unnecessary tension within the institution.