Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has called for the immediate release of over ₦130 billion in statutory allocations allegedly withheld from the state’s local governments, warning that the continued blockade is crippling grassroots governance and causing hardship for workers and residents.
In a statewide broadcast on Monday addressing the illegal occupation of local government secretariats, Adeleke said court-sacked All Progressives Congress (APC) chairmen and councillors have unlawfully occupied council offices for nearly a year, despite Federal High Court rulings in November 2022 and subsequent affirmations by the Court of Appeal in February and June 2025 nullifying their elections.
“The court removed them, not my administration,” the governor stressed, noting that fresh local government elections were held in accordance with court orders, leading to the swearing-in of duly elected chairmen and councillors on February 23, 2025.
He described the current occupants as impostors acting without any lawful mandate.
Adeleke accused former governor Gboyega Oyetola of allegedly backing the occupation with police support, an action he said undermines democracy and the rule of law.
He also alleged that local government workers who attempted to resume duty were harassed and intimidated by armed police officers and political thugs.
Central to his address was the withholding of local government funds.
Adeleke disclosed that since February 2025, statutory allocations due to Osun local governments, now totalling about ₦130 billion, have not been credited to the councils’ legal accounts.
He said these funds are critical for the payment of salaries for primary school teachers, nurses, health workers in 332 primary health care centres, council staff, traditional councils, and retirees.
The governor warned that the state government has had to make painful financial sacrifices to keep salaries paid for almost 12 months, describing the situation 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, adding that senior bank officials involved are facing criminal prosecution.
He questioned whether such actions would be tolerated in jurisdictions like New York or London, where the bank operates.
Calling for federal intervention, Adeleke appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to ensure the release of the withheld funds and to safeguard democratic institutions.
He stressed that the President was not involved in the alleged illegality but 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.
The governor urged residents to remain peaceful and law-abiding, assuring them of his administration’s commitment to upholding the Constitution and protecting their welfare.
