Adeleke Demands FG Release Osun’s Seized LG Funds

By Abu Ismail 

Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke, has renewed his demand on the Federal Government to release the state’s withheld local government allocations, insisting that the continued seizure is unconstitutional and detrimental to grassroots development.

Adeleke’s call comes on the heels of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) report, which declared the withholding of the funds illegal and a violation of the principles of fiscal federalism. According to the governor, the NBA’s position vindicates his administration and reinforces the legitimacy of the February 2025 local government elections conducted by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) — polls which were later upheld by the Court of Appeal.

“Osun cannot continue to be denied what rightfully belongs to her councils. The NBA report has confirmed what we have always maintained — that the Federal Government has no legal basis to hold on to these funds,” Adeleke said, thanking stakeholders who have stood with his government during the protracted battle.

Meanwhile, the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun dismissed the NBA’s intervention as “needless,” accusing Adeleke of politicizing the issue instead of focusing on governance.

In a dramatic show of solidarity, traditionalists at the Isese Day Festival offered special prayers for Adeleke’s triumph in the lingering dispute, describing his struggle as a fight for the dignity of Osun people and the autonomy of local governments.

The standoff over Osun’s local government allocations has dragged for months, deepening partisan tensions between the ruling PDP and the opposition APC, with observers warning that the resolution of the matter could set a critical precedent for state-federal financial relations across Nigeria.


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