Osun Govt Tackles COPSUN Over UNIOSUN VC Tenure
By Tiamiyu Kazeem
The Osun State Government has said the position of the Committee of Pro-Chancellors of State-Owned Universities (COPSUN) on the tenure extension of the Vice-Chancellor of Osun State University (UNIOSUN) requires further legal clarification.
In a statement issued on Sunday by the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Oluomo Kolapo Alimi, the Government said while it acknowledges COPSUN’s role in promoting sound governance in state-owned universities, the Committee’s position appears to be based on an incomplete understanding of the constitutional and legislative framework governing UNIOSUN.
The Government noted that UNIOSUN was established by the Osun State House of Assembly through the Osun State University Establishment Law, 2006, adding that the 1999 Constitution places university education on the Concurrent Legislative List and recognises the power of State Houses of Assembly to establish institutions for university, technological and professional education.
It stressed that this does not exclude legitimate federal regulation of university standards, accreditation and professional requirements, but cautioned against conflating such regulatory functions with the statutory governance of a state-owned university.
On COPSUN’s reliance on the Universities (Miscellaneous Provisions) Amendment Act, 2012, the Government said the critical legal question is whether the relevant provisions of the federal law apply to UNIOSUN in a manner capable of overriding the University’s enabling law.
The Government acknowledged the constitutional principle that a valid federal law prevails over an inconsistent state law to the extent of inconsistency, but maintained that the constitutional competence and scope of the federal enactment must first be established.
It also drew attention to the Osun State House of Assembly’s consideration and passage of the Osun State University Establishment Amendment Bill, 2026, saying the development makes it inaccurate to portray the matter as a unilateral executive alteration of the University’s governing law.
The statement added that while the Visitor cannot amend legislation by executive declaration, neither can a professional body or staff union legislate through a public statement.
According to the Government, the relevant issue is whether the legislative process undertaken by the State House of Assembly and the subsequent statutory arrangements are constitutionally and legally valid.
The Government further clarified that the VC’s existing tenure runs until January 2027, while the proposed additional tenure is to commence on January 4, 2027, stressing that the arrangement does not retrospectively alter an already completed tenure.
It recalled that the Governor had publicly explained at the University’s 16th Convocation that the extension followed consultations and legislative action concerning the University’s enabling law.
While acknowledging COPSUN’s concern about university autonomy, the Government maintained that institutional autonomy should not be interpreted as immunity from lawful legislative action.
It said the respective responsibilities of the Visitor, Governing Council, Senate, management, staff unions, NUC and professional regulatory bodies must remain distinct, and that regulatory responsibilities should not be allowed to become indistinguishable from statutory governance powers of a state university.
The Government consequently described COPSUN’s reported characterisation of the tenure extension as “illegal” as premature, urging the Committee to consider the complete legislative record and the final legal status of the amendment before reaching such a conclusion.
It called for the matter to be resolved through the Constitution, applicable statutes and official legislative records rather than competing press statements.
The Government emphasised that UNIOSUN’s academic stability and development should not be undermined by the controversy, noting that the University continues to serve thousands of students and staff across its campuses and has recorded developments in infrastructure, research and academic activities.
It therefore called for constructive engagement among COPSUN, NUC, professional regulatory bodies, the Governing Council, staff unions, the Visitor and the State Government, stressing that all stakeholders must operate within their lawful mandates.
The Government reaffirmed its commitment to the rule of law, institutional stability, academic excellence and constructive engagement with stakeholders in the Nigerian university system.
