Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke has raised alarm over the withholding of more than ₦130bn in statutory allocations meant for the state’s local governments, warning that the situation is paralysing grassroots administration and causing severe hardship for workers and citizens.
Speaking during a statewide address on Monday, January 26, about the illegal occupation of local government headquarters and threats to democratic governance, Adeleke explained that the crisis stems from court-removed APC chairmen and councillors who have refused to vacate council offices despite multiple court rulings against them.
The governor emphasised that the Federal High Court in Osogbo invalidated the elections of these officials in November 2022, with the Court of Appeal upholding that decision in both February and June 2025.
“The court removed them, not my administration,” he stated, noting that new local government elections were held in line with court directives, resulting in the inauguration of legitimately elected chairmen and councillors on February 23, 2025.
He branded those currently occupying the secretariats as imposters without legal authority.
Adeleke pointed fingers at former Governor Gboyega Oyetola, accusing him of supporting the illegal occupation through police backing, which he described as an assault on democracy and legal order.
He also alleged that local government staff attempting to report for work faced harassment and threats from armed police and political thugs.
The core of the governor’s concern centres on blocked local government funds. He revealed that statutory allocations due to Osun’s councils since February 2025, now amounting to approximately ₦130bn, have been kept from the legitimate council accounts.
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These funds are essential for paying primary school teachers, nurses, health workers serving 332 primary healthcare facilities, council employees, traditional rulers, and pensioners, he explained.
The governor disclosed that his administration has been scrambling to find alternative resources and making difficult financial decisions to ensure salaries continue for nearly a year, calling the arrangement unsustainable.
“Governance is about humanity, responsibility, and compassion, but this burden cannot continue indefinitely,” he said.
Adeleke also accused United Bank for Africa of permitting unauthorised individuals to control local government bank accounts, noting that senior bank officials implicated are already being prosecuted criminally.
He questioned whether such conduct would be acceptable in international financial centres like New York or London where UBA maintains operations.
The governor appealed directly to President Bola Tinubu to intervene by ordering the release of the withheld allocations and protecting democratic structures in Osun State.
He maintained that the President has no involvement in the alleged violations and urged him to save Osun’s local governments from what he termed an illegal blockade.
“There is no provision in our Constitution for tenure elongation,” Adeleke declared, presenting the situation as a battle between constitutional governance and lawlessness.
He called on Nigerians and supporters of democracy to demand the immediate cessation of the secretariat occupation and the release of council funds.
The governor encouraged residents to stay calm and obey the law whilst assuring them his government remains dedicated to constitutional governance and protecting their interests.