Governor of Osun State, Ademola Adeleke, has called for the immediate release of over ₦130 billion in statutory allocations allegedly withheld from the state’s local governments.
In a statewide broadcast on Monday addressing the illegal occupation of local government secretariats and the defence of democratic order, Adeleke said court-sacked All Progressives Congress (APC) chairmen and councillors had unlawfully occupied council offices across the state for nearly a year.
He noted that the Federal High Court, Osogbo, in November 2022, and the Court of Appeal in February and June 2025, had nullified their elections.
“The court removed them, not my administration,” Adeleke said, emphasising that fresh local government elections were conducted in compliance with existing court orders, resulting in the swearing-in of duly elected chairmen and councillors on February 23, 2025. He described the current occupants of the secretariats as impostors acting without any lawful mandate.
The governor accused former Osun State Governor Gboyega Oyetola of allegedly supporting the continued occupation with police backing, an action he said undermines democracy and the rule of law.
He also alleged that local government workers attempting to resume duty were harassed and intimidated by armed police officers and political thugs.
Central to Adeleke’s address was the withholding of local government funds. He disclosed that since February 2025, statutory allocations due to Osun local governments, now totalling about ₦130 billion, have not been released to the councils’ legitimate accounts.
He said the funds are critical for paying salaries of primary school teachers, nurses, health workers in 332 primary health care centres, council employees, traditional councils, and retirees.
According to the governor, the state government has been forced to make significant financial sacrifices to keep salaries paid for almost 12 months—a situation he described as unsustainable.
“Governance is about humanity, responsibility, and compassion, but this burden cannot continue indefinitely,” he said.
Adeleke also accused the United Bank for Africa (UBA) of allegedly allowing unauthorised persons to operate local government accounts, noting that senior bank officials involved are facing criminal prosecution.
He questioned whether such actions would be tolerated in cities like New York or London, where the bank also operates.
Calling for federal intervention, the governor appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to ensure the release of the withheld funds and to protect democratic institutions.
He clarified that the President was not involved in the alleged illegality and urged him to rescue Osun local governments from what he described as an unlawful siege.
“There is no provision in our Constitution for tenure elongation,” Adeleke said, framing the crisis as a choice between constitutional order and naked impunity.
He called on Nigerians and democracy advocates to demand an immediate end to the occupation of local government secretariats and the release of council funds.