OSOGBO – 10/08/2025 – The Osun State Government has once again called on the Federal Government to release local government allocations belonging to the state, in line with the recent Court of Appeal judgement on the leadership of local governments in Osun.
In a statement released by the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Oluomo Kolapo Alimi, the government reaffirmed that there is no legal or political justification for withholding the funds.
According to him, “before the law today, the elected chairmen and councilors that were produced based on the local government elections of 22nd February, 2025, are the official leadership of the local governments in Osun State.”
The commissioner stated that the Federal Government and the Presidency are fully aware of the situation, noting that the court judgement removing the APC Yes/No election chairmen and councillors remains valid. He added that this decision was upheld by the 13th June judgement of the Court of Appeal.
“As a matter of fact, there should not be any further controversy after the appeal court judgement recognizing the elected chairmen and councillors who are products of the 22nd February, 2025, local government elections,” he said.
The government clarified that there is no judicial ruling stopping the release of the funds, stressing that the Supreme Court judgement on local government autonomy has never been implemented.
Alimi further explained that even if the Supreme Court ruling were applied to Osun, the local government accounts for such payments would still need to be opened with the duly elected officials from the February elections as signatories, in accordance with state law and Section 7 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
The commissioner also disclosed that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu only became aware of the funds seizure after reading about it on the front page of the Nigerian Tribune during the Eid holidays.
This, he said, suggests that the Attorney-General of the Federation instructed the Accountant General of the Federation to withhold the funds without the president’s approval. “We, therefore, appeal to Mr. President to intervene and order the release of Osun local government allocations,” he urged.
The Osun State Government welcomed the intervention of traditional rulers and other respected leaders in seeking the release of the funds. “We further support the plan by the Osun State Council of Traditional Rulers to meet Mr. President on this matter.
The local government crisis is beyond politics as it has to do with governmental levels that directly affect the lives of our people. The intervention of our apolitical monarchs is therefore a welcome development,” the statement noted.
Alimi alleged that the decision to withhold the funds was aimed at targeting Governor Ademola Adeleke. However, he stressed that the real victims are the people of Osun, who have been benefiting from grassroots development initiatives.
“The attack on the state Governor has failed and we urge those behind the illegal move to abandon the anti-people path and release Osun local government funds without further delay,” he concluded.
Signed: Oluomo Kolapo Alimi, Hon. Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment.
