The Coalition of Concerned Nigerian Citizens, CCNC, has raised concerns over the effects of the withheld local government funds in Osun State, describing the situation as alarming and harmful to the wellbeing of residents.
This was contained in a statement issued by Spokesperson, Coalition of Concerned Nigerian Citizens, Raufu Sodiq, and made available to newsmen on Monday.
Sodiq said investigations conducted by the group across several sectors showed far-reaching damages caused by the continuous withholding of the funds.
He stated that businesses depending on local government workers had recorded reduced income, increased debts and financial pressure due to a year-long inactivity in council offices.
Sodiq noted that traders and service providers operating around local government offices were unable to sell goods or repay credit, attributing their losses to the suspension of activities since the funds were withheld.
He said traditional rulers were also affected as their salaries come from local government allocations, adding that many could no longer support less-privileged community members as they previously did.
Sodiq explained that the School of Special Needs in Osun had been hit hard due to the stoppage of the 70% funding share from local governments, causing malnutrition and shortages of basic necessities for students.
The CCNC Spokesperson lamented that the fund crisis had also stalled the completion of teachers’ recruitment, as the primary school section, financed by local governments, could not be separated from the secondary school recruitment financed by the state.
Sodiq added that sports development had declined, stressing that local governments were responsible for maintaining community sports facilities and supporting athletes.
He warned that the suspension of funding had weakened sports infrastructure and denied athletes the support needed to compete locally and internationally.
Sodiq said the O’MEAL program, which fed nearly 204,000 children daily, had been halted due to lack of funds, leading to increased street hawking and unemployment among 2,470 former food vendors.
He raised concerns over public health, noting that sanitation officers, known as Wole Wole, lacked resources to enforce environmental regulations, worsening waste disposal problems in communities.
Sodiq also drew attention to rising insecurity, linking it to the closure of some Amotekun offices, which limited patrols and enabled robbery, cultism and other crimes in affected areas, including Ife.
He stated that the agriculture sector, which contributes over 40% to Osun’s GDP, had suffered setbacks due to the inability of local governments to provide inputs, leading to project abandonment and reduced farmers’ productivity.
Sodiq warned that the situation had increased food insecurity risks, citing reports indicating over 30% food insecurity prevalence in the state.
The group issued several demands, including immediate release of the withheld funds, support for key sectors, restoration of essential services, improved security, accountability for those responsible and a three-day ultimatum to the Central Bank of Nigeria to ensure the funds are released and accessible.
He emphasized that failure by the Federal Government to act within the three-day ultimatum would compel the group to adopt more drastic measures nationwide, stressing that CCNC would continue to defend the welfare and rights of citizens.