Governor Adeleke calls for immediate release of ₦130bn withheld from Osun local governments amid illegal occupation of council secretariats

Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has demanded the immediate release of over ₦130 billion in statutory allocations allegedly withheld from the state’s local governments by the Federal Government.

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Adeleke made the demand during a statewide broadcast on Monday, describing what he called the illegal occupation of local government secretariats by court-sacked APC chairpersons and councillors.

The governor disclosed that statutory allocations due to Osun local governments have not been released to legal council accounts since February 2025.

He emphasised that the withheld funds are critical for the payment of salaries to primary school teachers, nurses, health workers in 332 primary health care centres, council staff, traditional councils, and retirees.

“Governance is about humanity, responsibility, and compassion, but this burden cannot continue indefinitely,” Adeleke said, noting that the state government has had to make painful sacrifices to keep salaries paid for almost 12 months, a situation he described as unsustainable.

The governor also accused the United Bank for Africa (UBA) of allowing unauthorised persons to operate local government accounts, adding that senior bank officials involved are facing criminal prosecution.

He questioned whether such conduct would be tolerated in jurisdictions like New York or London.

Adeleke appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to intervene and ensure the release of the withheld funds while protecting democratic institutions.

He further alleged that the court-sacked APC chairpersons and councillors had unlawfully occupied council offices across the state for nearly a year, despite Federal High Court and Court of Appeal judgments nullifying their elections.

“The court removed them, not my administration,” Adeleke stressed, noting that fresh local government elections were conducted in compliance with court orders, with duly elected chairpersons and councillors sworn in on February 23, 2025.

The governor described the current occupants of the secretariats as imposters acting without lawful mandate and accused former Governor Gboyega Oyetola of backing the occupation with police support, undermining democracy and the rule of law.

He added that local government workers who attempted to resume duty faced harassment and intimidation from armed police officers and political thugs.

Adeleke insisted that the President was not involved in the alleged illegalities and called on Nigerians and democracy advocates to demand the immediate end to the siege of council offices and the release of funds.

“There is no provision in our Constitution for tenure elongation,” he said, framing the crisis as a choice between constitutional order and naked impunity.

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The governor urged residents to remain peaceful and law-abiding, assuring them of his administration’s commitment to upholding the Constitution and safeguarding their welfare.