The Coalition of Civil Society Organizations for Good Governance (CCSOGG) has watched with profound concern and growing indignation them announcement by the Executive Governor of Osun State, Senator Ademola Adeleke, purporting to extend the tenure of the Vice-Chancellor of the Osun State University (UNIOSUN).
We state without equivocation that any attempt to extend the tenure of the Vice-Chancellor outside the provisions of the law establishing the University and the applicable laws, regulations and standards governing university administration in Nigeria is illegal, unacceptable and must be resisted by all lovers of education, democracy and the rule of law.
UNIOSUN is not a private estate, political secretariat or an institution to be administered according to the personal preferences of any individual, no matter how highly placed. It is a respected public institution established by law and governed by clearly defined statutes, regulations and procedures. The tenure and appointment of its principal officers cannot simply be altered through a verbal proclamation.
The Governor of Osun State must understand that executive authority is not absolute authority. Political power must always operate within the boundaries established by law. Nigeria’s university system is regulated by established legal and institutional frameworks, including standards applicable to university administration under the supervision of the National Universities Commission (NUC). Therefore, any action capable of undermining these standards or compromising the integrity and autonomy of the university system should not be tolerated.
Governor Ademola Adeleke must not reduce the highly respected Osun State University to a platform for political compensation, patronage or the settlement of political interests. The future of thousands of students, the careers of academics and administrators, and the reputation of an entire institution are far too important to be subjected to political convenience.
Our Coalition considers it particularly disturbing that an administration which has enjoyed tremendous goodwill and support from civil society organizations would allow itself to be associated with an action that appears inconsistent with the principles of transparency, accountability and respect for the rule of law.
Let it be clearly stated: the Coalition of Civil Society Organizations for Good Governance has been one of the consistent supporters of the Adeleke administration. We have defended the administration against perceived injustices, opposed attempts to undermine democratic governance in Osun State and stood firmly in support of policies and actions we considered beneficial to the people of the State.
However, our support for any government has never been and will never become a licence to endorse illegality.
We support good governance, not personalities. We defend democracy, not impunity. And where an administration we have supported takes a wrong step, we have a responsibility to speak truth to power and demand correction.
We therefore call on Governor Ademola Adeleke to immediately reverse any purported decision extending the tenure of the UNIOSUN Vice-Chancellor outside the provisions of the law. The Governor must allow the University to operate strictly according to its establishment law and all applicable regulations governing the administration of Nigerian universities.
Furthermore, we are issuing a strong warning to the Osun State House of Assembly against any attempt to hurriedly or improperly amend the establishment law of the University merely to retrospectively justify an illegal decision already taken by the Executive.
The law must not be manipulated to cover illegality.
Should there be any attempt by the Osun State House of Assembly to amend the law of UNIOSUN for the purpose of legitimising an unlawful tenure extension, the Coalition of Civil Society Organizations for Good Governance will have no hesitation in commencing mass civic action, including the picketing of the Osun State House of Assembly and the Osun State University.
We are prepared to mobilise civil society organizations, students, concerned citizens, academics and all defenders of democratic values to ensure that the integrity of UNIOSUN and Nigeria’s university system is protected.
We also call on the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), other academic unions, non-academic staff unions, alumni associations, students and every relevant stakeholder in the Nigerian university system to rise in defence of established laws and institutional procedures.
Silence in the face of illegality is complicity.
The issue at stake goes beyond one individual or one Vice-Chancellor. It concerns the future of institutional governance in Nigeria. If the tenure of a Vice-Chancellor can be extended through executive pronouncement outside the law, what then becomes of the statutes and procedures designed to protect our universities from arbitrary political interference?
Osun State must set the standard for democracy, constitutionalism, institutional integrity and good governance, not become an example of how political authority can be used to undermine established laws.
Our hope and expectation remain that Osun State will continue to move forward as a model of democratic governance. But democracy cannot thrive where laws are selectively observed and institutions are subjected to arbitrary decisions.
We therefore make it abundantly clear that the Coalition will mobilise every legitimate democratic and civic instrument available to ensure that any illegal extension of the tenure of the UNIOSUN Vice-Chancellor does not stand and does not see the light of day.
This is not a threat against any individual. It is a principled defence of the rule of law.
UNIOSUN belongs to the people of Osun State, not to politicians.
The law must prevail. Institutional integrity must be protected. Political patronage must not replace due process.
Enough of illegality. Enough of arbitrary governance. Let the rule of law prevail.
Yours Sincerely,
Comrade Declan Ihekiare
Coordinator
Olalekan Johnson
Secretary General
