Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has demanded the immediate release of over ₦130 billion in statutory allocations allegedly withheld from the state’s local governments, warning that the situation is crippling grassroots governance and deepening hardship for workers and residents.
In a statewide broadcast on Monday, Adeleke said the continued non-release of the funds stems from the unlawful occupation of local government secretariats by court-sacked All Progressives Congress (APC) chairmen and councillors.
The governor noted that the Federal High Court in Osogbo nullified the elections of the APC officials in November 2022, a decision later upheld by the Court of Appeal in February and June 2025.
Despite the rulings, he said the officials have continued to occupy council offices across the state.
He described the occupants of the secretariats as impostors operating without lawful authority and accused former governor Gboyega Oyetola of allegedly backing the occupation with police support.
Adeleke further alleged that local government workers attempting to resume duty were harassed and intimidated by armed police officers and political thugs.
The governor disclosed that since February 2025, statutory allocations meant for Osun local governments, now totalling about ₦130 billion have not been released into the councils’ legitimate accounts.
According to him, the funds are needed to pay salaries of primary school teachers, health workers in 332 primary healthcare centres, council staff, traditional councils and retirees.
He said the state government has had to make “painful sacrifices” to keep salaries paid for nearly a year, describing the situation as unsustainable.
Calling for federal intervention, the governor appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to ensure the release of the funds and protect democratic institutions, insisting that the President was not complicit in the alleged illegality.
