A fresh dispute has emerged over the two-year extension granted to Osun State University Vice-Chancellor, Prof Clement Odunayo Adebooye, after the Committee of Pro-Chancellors of State-Owned Universities questioned the legal basis of the decision and the Osun State Government insisted that it was supported by legislative action.

COPSUN raised its objection in a communiqué issued after its 73rd quarterly meeting in Ibadan and signed by its chairman, Prof Ayodeji Omole.

The committee urged Governor Ademola Adeleke, who serves as Visitor to UNIOSUN, to adhere strictly to the legal framework governing the university.

It said it had received a report that Adebooye's tenure was extended by two years beyond the existing five-year term and questioned whether the decision was consistent with the law governing the institution.

COPSUN also referred to the Universities (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, as amended, in making its case for adherence to due process in university governance.

The committee said the university's Pro-Chancellor, who is one of its members, should ensure that the institution follows the applicable legal requirements.

The intervention adds another layer to a controversy that has followed the tenure extension since it was announced at the end of August.

Adebooye assumed office as Vice-Chancellor in January 2022.

UNIOSUN's own 2021 advertisement for the position stated that the successful Vice-Chancellor would serve a single five-year term and would not be eligible for reappointment.

Under that arrangement, Adebooye's original tenure would end in January 2027.

Governor Adeleke subsequently announced that Adebooye would remain in office for an additional two years, citing continuity and the university's development under the current administration.

The governor later said the additional period would take effect from January 4, 2027.

The decision drew objections from some university stakeholders, including the Academic Staff Union of Universities, which questioned whether the existing legal framework permitted an extension.

But the Osun State Government has rejected the suggestion that the governor simply altered the Vice-Chancellor's tenure through executive action without legislative backing.

Responding to COPSUN on Monday, the government said the committee's position required further legal clarification.

In a statement by the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, the government argued that UNIOSUN was established by a law enacted by the Osun State House of Assembly and that university education falls within an area in which state legislatures have constitutional responsibilities.

The government acknowledged that national bodies have legitimate roles in areas such as university standards and accreditation, but argued that those responsibilities should be distinguished from the statutory governance of a state-owned institution.

It also pointed to the Osun State University Establishment Amendment Bill 2026, which was passed by the House of Assembly earlier in September.

The Assembly passed the bill on September 3 after a clause-by-clause consideration and moved it forward for the remaining legislative process.

The proposed amendment was introduced after the governor had announced the extension.

During consideration of the bill, lawmakers said one of its purposes was to provide a framework allowing a two-year extension of the Vice-Chancellor's tenure.

The sequence of events has become central to the disagreement.

Critics have argued that the tenure extension was first announced when the existing framework provided for a five-year single term, with the legislative amendment coming afterwards.

The government, however, says the relevant question is whether the State House of Assembly has constitutional authority to amend the university's enabling legislation and whether the resulting statutory arrangement is valid.

It maintained that the Visitor cannot change legislation through an executive declaration, but argued that the State House of Assembly has the power to amend legislation governing a state university.

The government therefore described COPSUN's reported characterisation of the extension as illegal as premature.

It said the committee should examine the complete legislative record and the final legal status of the amendment before reaching a conclusion.

Governor Adeleke had also defended the decision during UNIOSUN's 16th convocation, saying the university had recorded significant academic and infrastructural development under Adebooye.

According to the governor, 40 major building projects had been constructed and commissioned within the last four years.

He said the extension was intended to maintain continuity in what his administration considers a period of strong performance and institutional development.

COPSUN's objection is therefore not primarily about Adebooye's performance as Vice-Chancellor.

Its concern centres on university governance, the applicable law and the process through which a serving Vice-Chancellor's tenure can be altered.

The committee's communiqué also addressed a separate issue involving the regulatory role of professional bodies in Nigerian universities.

COPSUN called for the National Universities Commission to be strengthened as the principal regulatory authority for universities and expressed concern about overlapping accreditation, resource verification, licensing and other requirements imposed by professional bodies.

It argued that representatives of such bodies could participate in NUC-led accreditation exercises rather than conducting separate processes that place additional demands on universities.

For UNIOSUN, however, attention is likely to remain on the tenure controversy.

The university's previous recruitment documents clearly described the Vice-Chancellor's position as a five-year appointment without reappointment, while the state government now relies on subsequent legislative action as part of its justification for the additional two years.

What remains contested is the legal effect of that amendment process on Adebooye's tenure and whether it sufficiently addresses the concerns raised by COPSUN and other university stakeholders.

The state government has called for the disagreement to be resolved through the Constitution, applicable statutes and official legislative records rather than competing public statements.

Adebooye's existing five-year tenure remains in force until January 2027.

Unless the dispute produces a different legal or administrative outcome before then, the proposed additional two years are expected to begin from January 4, 2027.