Osun Governor Ademola Adeleke has renewed his call for release of withheld local government allocations.
He argued that withholding the funds is unconstitutional and denies grassroots communities vital development.
Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has again appealed to the Federal Government to release statutory allocations meant for local governments in the state.
Adeleke made the call in a statement by his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, on Wednesday, citing a recent report by the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and the support of community stakeholders. He described the continuous withholding of the funds as unconstitutional and urged compliance with the law.
The governor commended the NBA for setting up a committee to review the matter and for releasing a report that declared there was no legal basis for withholding Osun’s allocations. He also appreciated traditional rulers and civic groups that had spoken in support of the state, insisting that the broad consensus showed Osun was being unfairly treated.
Adeleke maintained that his administration was not behind the removal of All Progressives Congress (APC) council chairmen in 2022, explaining that it was carried out on the orders of a court. He stressed that the NBA’s findings confirmed his government acted within the law and that the issue was about constitutional compliance, not politics.
The governor argued that denying local governments access to their funds was limiting development at the grassroots. He urged the Federal Government to act quickly, saying, “The resources are meant for our people. Withholding them is denying the masses access to development.”
Adeleke assured residents that any funds released would be used transparently and strictly for public benefit, adding that the struggle was not personal but a fight for the rights of Osun people.
However, the state chapter of the APC faulted the NBA’s intervention, describing it as unnecessary. In a statement signed by its chairman, Tajudeen Lawal, the party accused the association of overstepping its bounds and acting as though it were a court.
According to the APC, the NBA had no legal standing to review or interpret court judgments and its position on the matter could mislead the public. The party warned the association to avoid using its platform for what it called “pecuniary interests.”
