Local government councils in Osun State have been denied access to over N58.9 billion in federal allocations within the past five months due to the prolonged closure of council secretariats, according to official figures.
Data from the office of the Accountant General of the Federation show that between February and June 2025, the 30 local governments in the state received combined allocations of N58,918,119,222.8. However, the money has remained effectively frozen as the councils have not been in operation following a leadership crisis that has crippled grassroots administration for months.
A breakdown of the allocation reveals that councils in Osun Central Senatorial District received N19.52 billion, those in Osun West got N19.16 billion, while councils in Osun East were allocated N20.23 billion. At the local government level, Ife East recorded the highest share with N2.37 billion, while Ede North received the lowest with N1.42 billion.
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Civil Society Raises Alarm
The Insight Initiative for Community and Social Development (IICSD), a non-partisan civic group, has raised fresh concerns over the prolonged stalemate and renewed its call for an immediate resolution.
“We condemn the continuous shutdown of council secretariats in the state, due to the protracted leadership crisis. We appeal for calm and a meticulous approach to resolving the dispute, with a view to enable our councils return to full operations in no distant time,” said the organisation’s Executive Director, ‘Jare Tiamiyu, in a statement on Tuesday.
The group said it had launched a daily reminder campaign to highlight the number of days council offices have been locked up, warning that residents at the grassroots are the ultimate victims of the deadlock.
“As a non-partisan entity, we will continue to demand transparency, accountability, and the delivery of good governance to the masses through our Osun Open Local Government (OsunOpenLG) Project,” Tiamiyu stressed. “This cannot be achieved when allocations expected to be used to initiate programmes and policies for the benefit of the masses are withheld.”
Background to the Crisis
Local government administration in Osun has been plagued by disputes since late 2022, when controversies over council elections escalated into legal battles. The administration of former Governor Gboyega Oyetola conducted local government elections in October 2022, but the exercise was challenged in court and declared unlawful.
When Governor Ademola Adeleke assumed office in November 2022, he dissolved the elected councils and appointed caretaker committees, citing the court judgment that nullified the poll. This move, however, triggered protests and counter-lawsuits from opposition parties and ousted council officials, deepening the crisis.
As a result, council offices have remained under lock for much of Adeleke’s tenure, with both political disagreements and litigation preventing any form of structured administration at the grassroots. Analysts say the situation has created a governance vacuum, as critical services such as sanitation, community healthcare, and rural development have stalled in many parts of the state.
Stakeholders Urge Quick Resolution
Observers have warned that the prolonged shutdown could worsen poverty and underdevelopment at the grassroots, particularly as local governments are meant to be the closest tier of government to the people.
“The withholding of nearly N59 billion meant for local governments is a major setback for the state,” said a political analyst in Osogbo. “These funds could have been used for roads, markets, schools, and health centres, but instead they are locked in political limbo.”
The IICSD has called on both the state government and the opposition to prioritise the welfare of citizens over partisan interests. It also urged traditional rulers, civil society organisations, and community leaders to intervene in order to break the deadlock.
A Test for Governance
For many residents, the crisis has raised deeper questions about the future of local government administration in Nigeria, where state governments often exercise control over council funds through the controversial State Joint Local Government Account.
Activists argue that unless there is constitutional reform to guarantee financial and administrative autonomy for local councils, grassroots governance will continue to suffer political interference.
In Osun, the fate of the N58.9 billion allocation remains uncertain, with no clear timeline for the reopening of the council secretariats. For now, residents in towns and villages across the state continue to wait for essential services that only functional local governments can deliver.
“The councils belong to the people,” Tiamiyu said. “They must be reopened for the greater good of all.”