Osun State House of Assembly has reaffirmed that all elected local government officials in the state are to serve a three-year term, effective from the date of their swearing-in.
It made the clarification against the backdrop of mosinterpretations of the tenure of local government officers, an issue that has sparked bitter controversies especially between the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, and the opposition All Progressives Congress.
Signed by the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Adewale Egbedun, the statement urged the public to disregard misleading claims being peddled by uninformed individuals and politically motivated groups.
Je said, “Let it be clearly understood that, in line with the provisions of Section 6 of the Osun State Local Government Areas (Creation and Administration) Amendment (No. 7) Law 2024, the tenure of elected local government officials is three years, commencing from the day they take the oath of office”.
The speaker explained that while the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) and the Electoral Act, 2022 provide the broad national framework for local government administration, the power to determine tenure, structure, and functions of local councils resides exclusively with state governments, via laws enacted by their respective state assemblies.
He emphasized that Section 7 of the Constitution delegates legislative authority over local government matters—including tenure arrangements—to the states. Meanwhile, Section 3(6) identifies 768 constitutionally recognized local government areas across the 36 states, excluding the six Area Councils of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), which are governed separately under the Electoral Act.
“The tenure of local government officials in the FCT is set by the Electoral Act. But for all other states, including Osun, it is the state law that determines the duration of service for elected council officials,” Egbedun clarified.
The Assembly advised residents, political stakeholders, and the media not to fall for politically charged misinterpretations aimed at discrediting the legitimacy of ongoing local governance in Osun State.
“We advise the public to seek clarifications from the appropriate legislative authority—namely, the Osun State House of Assembly—whenever in doubt about the structure or operation of local government in the state,” the statement said.
This clarification comes at a critical time, as some interest groups appear to be attempting to stir unnecessary controversy over the term limits of sitting council officials, creating avoidable political tension.
The Osun State Government, under the leadership of Governor Ademola Adeleke, continues to emphasize transparency, the rule of law, and stability in its approach to local governance.
