Adeleke Demands Immediate Release of ₦130bn LG Fund Amid Alleged Illegal Occupation of Osun LG Secretariats
OSOGBO, January 26, 2026 — Osun State Governor, Senator Nurudeen Ademola Adeleke, has issued a firm demand for the immediate release of over ₦130 billion in statutory allocations allegedly withheld from the state’s local governments, warning that the prolonged seizure of council funds and offices is inflicting severe damage on grassroots governance, workers’ welfare, and public service delivery.
In a statewide broadcast on Monday, the governor described the situation as an unconstitutional siege on democratic institutions, accusing court-sacked officials of the All Progressives Congress (APC) of unlawfully occupying local government secretariats across Osun State for nearly a year.
According to Adeleke, the continued occupation directly violates subsisting court judgments and has paralysed local government administration at a time when communities urgently need functional councils.
Court Judgments Ignored, Governor Insists
Governor Adeleke recalled that the Federal High Court sitting in Osogbo, in November 2022, nullified the elections that produced the APC chairmen and councillors, a ruling that was later affirmed by the Court of Appeal in February and June 2025.
“The courts removed them, not my administration,” Adeleke said, emphasising that the judiciary had conclusively settled the matter.
He explained that in compliance with the court rulings, the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission conducted fresh local government elections, which led to the swearing-in of duly elected chairmen and councillors on February 23, 2025.
Despite this, the governor lamented that individuals without any legal mandate continue to occupy council secretariats, describing them as imposters whose actions undermine constitutional order.
Adeleke Demands Immediate Release of ₦130bn LG Fund to Save Grassroots Governance
Central to the governor’s address was the prolonged withholding of statutory allocations meant for Osun’s 30 local governments and area councils.
Governor Adeleke disclosed that since February 2025, allocations amounting to approximately ₦130 billion have not been released to the legally recognised local government accounts.
He stressed that the funds are essential for the smooth running of grassroots governance, including:
- Payment of salaries for primary school teachers
- Wages of nurses and health workers in 332 primary healthcare centres
- Remuneration of local government staff
- Funding of traditional councils
- Settlement of pension obligations to retirees
“The deprivation of these funds has pushed our local governments to the brink,” Adeleke said, warning that the situation is unsustainable.
State Government Bears Financial Burden
The governor revealed that for almost 12 months, the Osun State Government has been forced to make “painful sacrifices” to keep critical workers paid, despite the funds being constitutionally designated for local councils.
“Governance is about humanity, responsibility, and compassion,” Adeleke noted, “but this burden cannot continue indefinitely.”
He warned that continued denial of local government funds threatens essential services, particularly in rural communities where councils play a vital role in healthcare, education, and sanitation.
Allegations Against Police and Political Actors
In a strongly worded segment of the broadcast, Adeleke accused the Nigeria Police Force in Osun State of allegedly acting on illegal orders to support the continued occupation of council secretariats.
He specifically alleged that the former governor of Osun State, Gboyega Oyetola, is backing the action, describing it as a dangerous precedent that erodes democratic norms.
The governor further alleged that local government workers who attempted to resume duty were harassed, intimidated, and chased away by armed police officers and political thugs.
“This is not law enforcement; this is the subversion of democracy,” Adeleke declared.
Banking Controversy and Legal Action
Governor Adeleke also raised serious concerns over the role of United Bank for Africa (UBA), accusing the bank of allegedly allowing unauthorised individuals to operate local government accounts.
He disclosed that senior officials of the bank are already facing criminal prosecution over the matter.
Questioning the bank’s conduct, Adeleke asked whether such actions would be tolerated in global financial centres like New York or London, where UBA also operates.
“This is a clear breach of financial ethics and the law,” he said.
Call for Presidential Intervention
While insisting that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was not complicit in the alleged illegality, Governor Adeleke appealed directly to the President to intervene and ensure the immediate release of the withheld funds.
He urged the federal government to protect democratic institutions and prevent what he described as an unlawful attempt at tenure elongation.
“There is no provision in our Constitution for tenure elongation,” Adeleke stated, framing the crisis as a defining test between constitutional governance and impunity.
Appeal to Nigerians and Democracy Advocates
The governor called on Nigerians, civil society organisations, and democracy advocates to speak out against the occupation of local government secretariats and demand respect for court judgments.
He stressed that local governments are the closest tier of government to the people and that weakening them only deepens poverty and insecurity.
Despite the tension, Adeleke urged residents of Osun State to remain peaceful and law-abiding, assuring them that his administration remains committed to the rule of law and the protection of citizens’ welfare.
“Our duty is to uphold the Constitution, protect democracy, and ensure that governance works for the people,” the governor concluded.
The broadcast was signed by Mallam Olawale Rasheed, Spokesperson to the Osun State Governor.
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