Reps Minority Caucus Demands Immediate Release of Osun LG Funds

Reps Minority Caucus Demands Immediate Release of Osun LG Funds

•Urges Tinubu to Direct Agencies to Obey Constitution

JOEL OLADELE, Abuja

The House of Representatives Minority Caucus has once again demanded the immediate release of statutory allocations belonging to Local Government Councils in Osun State, warning that it may resort to legislative action if the Federal Government continues to withhold the funds.

In a fresh statement signed by its leaders; Minority Leader, Rep. Kingsley Chinda; Minority Whip, Rt. Hon. Dr. Ali Isa J.C.; Deputy Minority Leader, Rt. Hon. Aliyu Madaki; and Deputy Minority Whip, Rt. Hon. George Ozodinobi, the Caucus described the action of the Federal Government as “unconstitutional, illegal and dangerous for democracy.”

“The Caucus of the House of Representatives is deeply concerned by credible reports that statutory allocations due to Osun State Local Government Councils have been withheld since February 2025. There is no legal basis for this action,” the statement read.

Citing Section 162 of the 1999 Constitution and the Supreme Court’s landmark ruling in A.G Lagos State vs. A.G Federation (2004), the lawmakers insisted that “the President has no power to suspend or withhold local government funds.”

They warned that the continued withholding of the funds not only violates the Constitution and judicial pronouncements but also undermines the autonomy of local governments, erodes public confidence in democratic institutions, and sets a dangerous precedent for impunity.

The Minority Caucus further noted that the move disregards clear judgments of the Court of Appeal delivered on February 10 and June 13, 2025, as well as the Osun State High Court ruling of February 21, 2025, which upheld the election of PDP council officials as the legitimate representatives entitled to manage the funds.

“These elected officials, under the law, are the legitimate authorities entitled to administer the councils and to receive their due allocations,” the Caucus stressed.

On the socio-economic implications, the lawmakers warned that families of local government workers are already bearing the brunt.

“Without these funds, salaries, pensions, and basic services such as healthcare, education, and infrastructure have been crippled. Thousands of workers are facing hardship, while small businesses and local economies are sliding into deeper stagnation,” they declared.

The Caucus then called on President Bola Tinubu to personally intervene by directing all relevant agencies to immediately release the funds to Osun councils.

“We call on the President and Commander-in-Chief to respect the Constitution, uphold court rulings, and immediately order the release of all funds meant for Local Government Councils in Osun State. This is critical to restoring trust in governance, alleviating the suffering of workers’ families, and reviving local economies,” the statement concluded.

The Minority Caucus had earlier, on August 2, 2025, issued a statement titled “Let Osun LGAs Breathe” in which it first threatened to deploy legislative measures against the Federal Government should the funds remain withheld.