The Osun State Government has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to intervene in the continued withholding of allocations to local government in the state, citing a recent Court of Appeal judgment that affirmed the legitimacy of elected council chairmen and councillors produced in the February 22, 2025, local government elections.
In a statement issued by the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Oluomo Kolapo Alimi, the state government described the funds being withheld as “unjustifiable” and “harmful” to grassroots development.
“The Osun State Government has again renewed its call on the Federal Government to release Osun State local governments’ allocations in recognition and compliance with the recent Court of Appeal judgement on the state’s local government leadership question,” Alimi said.
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According to him, there is neither a legal nor political basis for the continued seizure of the funds, stressing that the elected officials from the February 2025 elections remain the lawful leadership of the local councils.
“We are aware that the Federal Government and indeed the Presidency have all the facts of the situation concerning Osun local governments. The reality remains that the court judgement sacking the APC Yes/No election chairmen and councillors remains valid and was recently validated by the 13th June judgement of the Court of Appeal,” he explained.
“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.”
Alimi further clarified that no judicial ruling currently prevents the release of the withheld funds, noting that the Supreme Court’s decision on local government autonomy has yet to be implemented nationwide and cannot be selectively applied to Osun.
The commissioner also alleged that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu only became aware of the fund seizure after reading a news report during the Eid holidays, suggesting that the decision was made without presidential approval.
“We, therefore, appeal to Mr. President to intervene and order the release of Osun local government allocations,” he stated.
The government expressed support for ongoing efforts by traditional rulers and other leaders of thought to mediate on the issue, describing the move as a non-partisan approach to alleviating the hardship the fund seizure is causing in communities.
“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,” Alimi said.
He accused unnamed individuals of orchestrating the fund freeze in an attempt to undermine Governor Ademola Adeleke, insisting that the people of Osun are the real victims of the action.
“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,” the commissioner concluded.
