Osun State Government Pleads for Release of Withheld Local Government Funds

The Osun State Government has made a fervent appeal to President Bola Tinubu to intervene in the release of withheld local government allocations, citing a recent Court of Appeal judgment that upheld the February 2025 council elections. Despite this legal backing, the federal government has refused to release the funds, sparking concerns about the impact on grassroots communities The total amount withheld stands at ₦46.9 billion, covering allocations for March, April, May, and June.

– March: ₦11.9 billion
– April: ₦11.2 billion
– May: ₦11.7 billion
– June: ₦12.1 billion
The Court of Appeal in Akure validated the legitimacy of the February 2025 local government elections, affirming the PDP’s victory and its elected chairmen and councilors.

The APC claims that Governor Ademola Adeleke’s administration owes local councils ₦84 billion, allegedly withdrawn illegally. However, the state government insists it was within its rights to conduct the local government election .

The governor has appealed to President Tinubu to release the funds, emphasizing that there’s no legal basis for withholding them.
The party accuses Adeleke of orchestrating a six-month strike by NULGE and describes the claim of withheld funds as “misinformation”.

The continued withholding of funds has caused hardship for grassroots communities, prompting the Osun State Government to seek intervention from traditional rulers and other leaders. The government has also expressed support for the plan by the Osun State Council of Traditional Rulers to meet with President Tinubu on this matter .