Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State has issued an urgent call for the immediate release of over ₦130 billion in statutory allocations allegedly withheld from local governments. He warns that this ongoing blockade is crippling grassroots governance and causing significant hardship for both workers and residents.
In a statewide broadcast on Monday, Governor Adeleke addressed the illegal occupation of local government secretariats and stressed the importance of defending democratic order. He highlighted that court-sacked chairmen and councillors from the All Progressives Congress (APC) have unlawfully occupied council offices across the state for nearly a year, despite multiple court rulings nullifying their elections. These rulings include a Federal High Court judgment in November 2022 and affirmations by the Court of Appeal in February and June 2025.
“The court removed them, not my administration,” Adeleke reiterated, emphasising that fresh local government elections were conducted in compliance with court orders, resulting in the swearing-in of duly elected officials on February 23, 2025. He condemned the current occupants of the secretariats as impostors operating without any lawful mandate.
The governor further accused former Osun State Governor Gboyega Oyetola of allegedly supporting this unlawful occupation, claiming that police assistance is being used to undermine democracy and the rule of law. He reported that local government workers attempting to resume their duties have faced harassment and intimidation from armed police officers and political thugs.
Central to Adeleke’s address was the issue of withheld local government funds. He revealed that since February 2025, statutory allocations due to Osun local governments—totaling around ₦130 billion—have not been released to the councils’ legal accounts.
“This funding is crucial for the payment of salaries for primary school teachers, nurses, health workers in 332 primary health care centres, council workers, traditional councils, and retirees,” he explained. The governor stated that his administration has had to seek alternative funding and make painful sacrifices to ensure salaries have been paid for nearly 12 months, a situation he termed unsustainable.
“Governance is about humanity, responsibility, and compassion, but this burden cannot continue indefinitely,” he stressed.
Adeleke also accused the United Bank for Africa (UBA) of permitting unauthorised individuals to operate local government accounts, indicating that senior bank officials involved are already facing criminal prosecution. He raised concerns about whether such practices would be tolerated in financial jurisdictions like New York or London, where the bank also operates.
In a plea for federal intervention, Adeleke appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to ensure the release of the withheld funds and to safeguard democratic institutions in Osun State. He clarified that he does not believe the President is complicit in the alleged illegality and urged him to rescue local governments from what he termed an unlawful siege.
“There is no provision in our Constitution for tenure elongation,” Adeleke stated, framing the ongoing crisis as a choice between constitutional order and blatant impunity. He called upon Nigerians and advocates of democracy to demand an immediate end to the occupation of local government secretariats and the release of council funds.
The governor urged residents to remain peaceful and law-abiding, assuring them of his administration’s commitment to uphold the Constitution and protect their welfare.
Conclusion
Governor Adeleke’s demand for the release of ₦130 billion in withheld local government funds highlights a critical juncture for Osun State. As grassroots governance faces unprecedented challenges, the call for federal intervention and the restoration of lawful authority in local councils becomes increasingly urgent. The outcome of this situation will have profound implications for the future of democracy and governance in the region.
