The Osun State House of Assembly has raised fresh concerns over what it described as the illegal disruption of local government administration and the alleged diversion of local government funds in the state.
At a press conference held on Saturday at the House of Assembly Complex in Osogbo, lawmakers accused individuals whose local government elections were nullified by the courts of unlawfully occupying council secretariats and interfering with council finances, despite the expiration of their tenure on October 22, 2025.
The Assembly said such actions undermine constitutional provisions, democratic governance, and the welfare of residents at the grassroots.
Speaking on behalf of the House, the lawmakers stressed that under Section 7 of the 1999 Constitution, state legislatures retain the authority to regulate local government administration, including financial controls and accountability mechanisms. They added that the Supreme Court’s ruling on local government financial autonomy does not override this constitutional provision.
The Assembly further alleged that Mr Gboyega Oyetola had no constitutional or statutory authority to issue directives on the disbursement of local government funds or influence banks and security agencies on matters relating to council administration.
According to the lawmakers, credible information available to the House indicates that large sums of local government funds were allegedly disbursed under such directives. These include payments of N25 million to each of 30 local government chairmen, N12 million to each vice chairman, N10 million to each of 332 councillors, N130 million to selected traditional rulers, and an alleged N13 billion in legal fees to a private law firm representing the affected officials.
The House expressed concern that local government funds were allegedly used to pay private lawyers engaged by the officials in their personal capacity, noting that the councils did not formally retain the legal services.
Meanwhile, the Assembly said that despite these alleged disbursements, local government workers—including primary school teachers, healthcare workers, civil servants, retirees, and some traditional rulers—have reportedly not been paid salaries for over 12 months.
Lawmakers also warned of alleged plans to divert an additional N50 billion of local government funds under the guise of project execution, a move they said would further cripple grassroots governance if allowed to proceed.
The Assembly disclosed that it had written severally to banks, including the United Bank for Africa (UBA), clarifying that only career officers duly appointed under the Local Government Service Commission are lawful signatories to local government accounts under existing Osun State laws.
It warned that any bank releasing council funds on the instructions of unauthorised individuals risks criminal liability, stressing that illegal disbursement of public funds constitutes a financial crime.
The House further placed financial institutions and international partners on notice, warning that continued involvement in the alleged unlawful handling of local government funds could attract legal and reputational consequences.
However, the Assembly commended Governor Ademola Adeleke for what it described as sacrifices made over the past year to ensure that teachers, nurses, healthcare workers, and local government staff continued to receive salaries despite the alleged withholding of council allocations.
The lawmakers reiterated their commitment to defending the rule of law, protecting public funds, and ensuring accountability in local government administration.
“The welfare of the people must never be sacrificed on the altar of politics,” the Assembly said, adding that no individual or institution is above the law.
